1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

Trump’s administration and DOGE have once again put American lives in danger by gutting critical funding at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) (The Independent, March 2025). These cuts are forcing NOAA to rely on outdated “persistence forecasting” methods, where tomorrow’s weather is assumed to be the same as today’s—a system used before modern forecasting even existed (The Independent, March 2025). At a time when severe weather events are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change (NOAA, 2024), this is reckless and indefensible. NOAA plays a crucial role in protecting communities from hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and other deadly events. Without proper forecasting, entire regions could face delayed or missed warnings, costing lives and billions in damages. Experts have already warned that a degraded weather service will disproportionately harm rural communities, low-income families, and regions prone to extreme weather (American Meteorological Society, 2024). This is not about efficiency—it’s about dismantling a cornerstone of public safety. The National Weather Service union has called the cuts “a disaster in the making” (Washington Post, March 2025). Meanwhile, Americans are left more vulnerable, while Trump’s allies prioritize political loyalty over the public good. These attacks on science and common-sense governance are putting the very fabric of disaster preparedness at risk. I demand you stand against these cuts, restore NOAA’s full capabilities, and hold this administration accountable for jeopardizing American safety.