President Donald Trump has nominated Neil Jacobs to head the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as per the nomination sent to Congress. Jacobs previously served as the acting head of the agency during Trump's first term. NOAA, a part of the Department of Commerce, is responsible for overseeing various agencies related to ocean, weather, and climate, including the National Weather Service and US fisheries.
As a computer modeling expert, Jacobs brings a unique skill set to the role. However, there may be challenges ahead, as there have been recommendations to disband the agency, as proposed in Project 2025. Howard Lutnick, Trump's nominee for commerce chief, expressed his support for maintaining NOAA and its vital responsibilities during his confirmation hearing.
Recent developments within the Department of Commerce have also included information being shared with employees about a program known as the 'deferred resignation program,' colloquially referred to as the federal employee buyout. This program essentially offers an exit package to eligible employees. The details of this program were communicated to most employees, including those at NOAA, on Monday afternoon.
