The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will be adding over 100 staff members to its National Weather Service workforce after conducting layoffs in February.

This follows NOAA’s effort to reduce its workforce by approximately 10% through an early retirement option and by not renewing contracts with probationary workers. An NWS spokesperson confirmed to the Hill that the service received “an exception to the Department-wide hiring freeze to further stabilize frontline operations.”

Recommended Stories

• Shuttered Michigan nuclear plant clears major hurdle to restart
• Dead pipeline projects in New York seek permits to resume construction
• Supreme Court narrows federal environmental reviews for major energy projects

“NOAA leadership is taking steps to address those who took a voluntary early retirement option,” a NOAA spokesperson said.

The Washington Examiner reached out to NOAA for comment.

Staffers from the Department of Government Efficiency entered NOAA offices in February, days before the layoffs were announced. Some in leadership positions at NOAA had sought exemptions for meteorologists working at the NWS, a source familiar with the discussions told the Washington Examiner.

HURRICANE SEASON STARTS JUNE 1. HERE’S WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT CUTS TO WEATHER AGENCIES

The Department of Health and Human Services also called back about 40 fired employees to their positions in workplace safety. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health was the latest agency to rehire employees hastily let go in the name of government efficiency.

Other federal agencies have also opted to rehire employees, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Nuclear Security Administration, Food and Drug Administration, Indian Health Service, and Bonneville Power Administration. The agencies rehired only a portion of the laid-off staff.