1. United States
2. Okla.
3. Letter

The potential loss of another 1,000 employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is deeply concerning. NOAA plays a vital role in protecting public safety through its weather forecasting capabilities and monitoring of environmental changes. With hurricane season approaching, reducing staffing levels by nearly 20% could severely hinder NOAA's ability to produce accurate and timely forecasts, putting lives at risk. The recent cuts and resignations have already impacted NOAA's core functions, including hurricane and tornado prediction, fisheries management, and climate change monitoring. Further reductions will only exacerbate these issues. NOAA's work is essential for disaster preparedness, safeguarding ecosystems, and understanding the long-term impacts of human activities on the planet. I urge you to reconsider these damaging staffing cuts and prioritize preserving NOAA's workforce and capabilities. The services provided by NOAA are critical to the well-being and security of all Americans. Undermining this agency's effectiveness would be a disservice to the nation and could have catastrophic consequences.