1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

The recent mass terminations and budget cuts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Weather Service (NWS) are deeply concerning. As we enter tornado and hurricane seasons, compromising the staffing and resources dedicated to monitoring severe weather events poses a grave risk to public safety. With forecasting offices already understaffed prior to these actions, the loss of meteorologists, hydrologists, and technicians will severely hinder the ability to track hazardous conditions around the clock. Layoffs within teams responsible for tornado, tsunami, and hurricane warnings are particularly alarming given the life-threatening nature of these events. Reports of entire towns being devastated by recent tornadoes underscore the critical importance of maintaining robust early warning capabilities. Furthermore, the dismissal of staff from the Environmental Modeling Center could undermine the accuracy of weather prediction models relied upon by forecasters worldwide. Effective communication of vital information to the public has also been jeopardized with the termination of the external affairs team. Restoring full staffing levels and ensuring adequate funding for NOAA and NWS should be a top priority. These agencies provide an essential public service, safeguarding lives and property through their highly accurate forecasts. Allowing budget constraints to cripple their operations would be an unacceptable dereliction of duty. The expertise of these dedicated professionals must be valued and preserved to maintain our nation's weather readiness and keep Americans safe during severe events.