U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer is demanding answers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) after sweeping federal job cuts have begun disrupting storm tracking and emergency preparedness across Upstate New York.
Schumer sounded the alarm after the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s ‘DOGE’ initiative slashed NOAA’s workforce by approximately 20%, including 108 National Weather Service (NWS) employees. These cuts have already led to Albany suspending weather balloon launches, Great Lakes research offices closing, and meteorologists fearing a decline in storm prediction accuracy for the region.
Schumer: “We can’t let ‘DOGE’ turn NY’s weather map into Swiss cheese”
Schumer criticized the cuts as reckless and warned that reduced forecasting capabilities would leave New Yorkers vulnerable to snowstorms, floods, tornadoes, and other extreme weather events.
“These tools are how Upstate NY families get weather reports, how communities get emergency alerts, and how we know if a snowstorm will drop two inches or two feet overnight,” Schumer said. “These massive cuts are already affecting us—weather balloons aren’t going up in Albany, meteorologists are losing jobs, and Upstate New York’s storm tracking is full of holes.”
Impacts of the NOAA layoffs
- Weather balloon launches suspended in Albany – These balloons provide real-time atmospheric data crucial for storm tracking and emergency warnings.
- Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory cuts – This lab conducts critical studies on lake ecosystems and water quality, now facing an “indefinite hiatus” due to staff reductions.
- National Weather Service understaffing – The loss of 108 meteorologists nationwide will reduce forecast accuracy, potentially delaying alerts for extreme weather events.
Schumer demands answers, restoration of weather services
Schumer has sent a formal request to NOAA Acting Administrator Vice Admiral Nancy Hann, demanding:
- A full accounting of how many NOAA staff in New York were fired and what roles they filled.
- A breakdown of staffing cuts at each of New York’s 24 National Weather Service offices.
- The impact of layoffs on Great Lakes programs, farming, and fisheries.
- A plan to restore critical weather tracking services before the next storm season.
Schumer also called for immediate reinstatement of terminated services, arguing that NOAA’s NWS warnings have saved countless lives and remain essential for farmers, businesses, and residents.
Political backlash over ‘DOGE’ initiative
The cuts are part of a broader federal downsizing effort under ‘DOGE’, spearheaded by the Trump administration and tech billionaire Elon Musk. While proponents argue that the initiative is eliminating bureaucratic waste, critics—including Schumer—contend that it is gutting essential public safety services.
“How is it in the public’s interest to have less accurate weather information?” Schumer asked. “This is cutting for the sake of cutting—with no regard for how it puts lives at risk.”
With New York experiencing a record-high number of tornadoes last summer and extreme winter storms each year, Schumer vowed to fight for the restoration of NOAA’s funding and staffing levels to protect Upstate New Yorkers from unpredictable weather.
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