1. United States
2. Ill.
3. Letter

The National Weather Service and NOAA play a critical role in protecting lives and ensuring public safety during severe weather events. The proposed cuts and dismantling of these vital agencies put countless Americans at risk from tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters. As respected meteorologists like Tom Skilling have warned, the expertise and around-the-clock monitoring provided by the NWS and NOAA are invaluable resources that cannot be easily replicated by private entities. Their data and forecasting abilities inform emergency response, aviation safety, agricultural planning, and much more, benefiting virtually every sector of society. Gutting these agencies for ideological reasons jeopardizes the well-being of the entire nation. I urge you to reconsider these destructive measures and instead prioritize preserving and strengthening the National Weather Service and NOAA to safeguard American lives and livelihoods.