Goodbye scientific research? How the Trump Administration layoffs could danger public safety
Trump’s cuts to scientific research could have an effect on public safety. Here’s how they could affect you.
Donald Trump’s administration is set to cut more than 1,000 jobs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the body that monitors the nation’s weather and oceans.
The NOAA are preparing to lay off 10% of their workforce, 1,029 of the current 10,290, with the worry that the cuts could have a negative impact on efficiency, potentially putting human lives at risk across the United States.
The Associated Press were told that the numbers were presented to employees and managers “were asked to submit names of positions for layoffs to agency headquarters”. These names will, in turn, go to NOAA’s parent agency, the Department of Commerce, run by Howard Lutnick, the man people are also blaming for Trump’s tariffs mess.
Lives at risk from hurricanes due to Trump cuts
Providing public warnings about hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and tsunamis is a high priority on the NOAA list of daily tasks, as well as monitoring the weather more generally. They also warn about avalanches and space weather, manage the country’s fisheries and provide navigation information to ships.
Huge concerns are arising over the ability of the NOAA to function after such a huge number of lay offs, with certain jobs within the agency already unable to be carried out due to understaffing, such as sending out weather balloons, a key part in monitoring potentially dangerous atmospheric conditions. Former NOAA chief scientist Craig McLean said that people will “very quickly” realise that their weather forecasts are no longer as accurate or detailed, with the population “silently watching the United States decline as a technological leader.”
This is not the first time that cuts have swept through the NOAA since Trump was elected, with AP reporting that once the current cuts have taken place, 1 in 4 people at the agency will have lost their jobs.
NOAA, the federal agency responsible for forecasting the weather and tracking extreme weather events like hurricanes, is looking at 50% employee cut and a 30% budget cut.
— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) February 7, 2025
In times of crisis, Trump will gladly leave you and your family at risk. pic.twitter.com/zYlr2D7qli
Former NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad told AP that “this is not government efficiency. It is the first steps toward eradication. There is no way to make these kinds of cuts without removing or strongly compromising mission capabilities.”
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
Complete your personal details to comment
Your opinion will be published with first and last names