The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration began cutting its probationary workforce on Thursday, with hundreds working at the top climate and weather forecasting agency affected by the layoffs as the Trump administration continues to cut the federal workforce to reduce spending.
The cuts could affect more than 10% of the employees at the agency, according to two sources with internal knowledge of the agency. On Thursday afternoon, the Commerce Department sent emails to hundreds of employees saying their jobs would be cut off at the end of the day. More notifications of terminations are expected on Friday.
JUST IN – the DOGE cuts are now extending to NOAA and the National Weather Service. I hope to have more details soon.
— Samantha-Jo Roth (@SamanthaJoRoth) February 27, 2025
NOAA was established by President Richard Nixon in 1970 under the Department of Commerce. Its primary functions are to study and monitor the ocean and atmosphere, operate satellites, protect marine life, and provide extreme weather warnings.
Staffers from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency had entered NOAA offices earlier in February. Some in leadership positions at NOAA had sought exemptions for meteorologists working at the National Weather Service, a source familiar with the discussions told the Washington Examiner.
It’s unclear if those requests for exemptions were followed. However, several meteorologists came out publicly and announced their terminations on social media on Thursday.
Matthew Eovino, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Anchorage, announced his termination in a post on X, writing that “this isn’t just about me – this impacts the future of weather forecasting.”
I never thought I’d be in this position, but I was unexpectedly terminated from my job as an NWS meteorologist. This isn’t just about me—this impacts the future of weather forecasting. #NWS #NOAA pic.twitter.com/DWKmz4IiWp
— Matthew Eovino (@MatthewEovinoWX) February 27, 2025
NOAA was one of the agencies targeted by the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, which called for the administration to break up the climate agency. President Donald Trump repeatedly distanced himself from the policy blueprint while campaigning, however, the president has appointed several of its architects, including Russell Vought, who is now leading the Office of Management and Budget.
The layoffs at NOAA come after other agencies have been downsizing their workforce, laying off employees with less than two years of service. Trump’s administration has been working to cut the federal workforce as a way to trim down government spending.
Workers at NOAA Headquarters, the National Weather Service, the satellites division, the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory and the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research have been hit by the cuts, according to a source familiar.
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA), the top Democrat on the House National Resources Committee, slammed the layoffs in a statement on Thursday.
DOGE ENTERS NOAA, RAISING DEMOCRATIC FEARS IT WILL BE DISMANTLED
“Musk’s sham mission is bringing vital programs to a screeching halt,” he said “People nationwide depend on NOAA for free, accurate forecasts, severe weather alerts, and emergency information. Purging the government of scientists, experts, and career civil servants and slashing fundamental programs will cost lives.”
The Washington Examiner reached out to both NOAA and the Commerce Department for comment.