The Trump administration has recently announced plans to reduce the workforce at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with approximately 800 employees facing termination, as reported by sources familiar with the agency. Further layoffs are anticipated, with the possibility of over a thousand employees being let go by the end of the week.
Various divisions within NOAA, which is known for its expertise in weather, oceans, biodiversity, climate research, and planetary monitoring, have been impacted by the workforce reduction. The terminations primarily targeted probationary employees, who are individuals that have been in their roles for a year or less.
According to an insider at the National Weather Service, a significant number of probationary employees were dismissed on Thursday. The National Weather Service, a crucial component of NOAA, employs between 350 and 375 probationary employees. However, it remains unclear how many of them were affected by the recent layoffs. Some exemptions were reportedly granted for critical positions, particularly those involved in life-threatening disaster forecasting such as hurricanes and severe thunderstorms.
Employees of the National Weather Service are represented by a workers' union, which is actively reaching out to those impacted by the terminations. Several affected employees have taken to social media to express their intentions of exploring legal options in response to the layoffs.
