Exclusive: Senate appropriator pushes back on NOAA cuts
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In another sign of congressional pushback on cuts to NOAA, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) asked the Commerce Department for detailed information on how the top federal weather, climate and oceans agency has been affected.
Why it matters: The letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick — provided first to Axios — puts pressure on the department to defend the layoffs' legality based on existing laws and recent court rulings.
- Van Hollen is ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee panel with jurisdiction over NOAA.
NOAA also is preparing plans to lay off about 1,000 more employees as part of a "reduction in force" the White House called for from federal agencies, two people familiar with the matter told Axios.
- These may affect multiple missions the agency has, from fisheries surveys to monitoring space weather.
Zoom in: Van Hollen's letter seeks detailed information on how the agency's missions have been affected by the cuts.
- Van Hollen also expressed concern over the possibility that leases for NOAA facilities have been canceled or are being considered for cancellation "without considering the impact to bureau missions." He requested a list of such buildings.
- The letter reiterates the senator's view — relayed to Lutnick the day before the firings — that cutting hundreds of NOAA probationary employees is likely illegal.
- It notes that the department failed to notify the committee before the actions were taken, which also violates existing law.
State of play: Axios and The Verge reported last week that a key weather and climate prediction facility appeared on a lease termination list provided to NOAA.
- The NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction in College Park, Md., which opened in 2012, contains several forecasting units and critical telecommunications equipment that disseminate observational weather data and computer modeling projections worldwide.
- A NOAA source who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to concerns about retribution told Axios that if the lease is terminated, replicating that building's capabilities would take at least a year and cost millions of dollars.
- Since the stories appeared, other current and former NOAA sources have told Axios that the building is closer to being spared, though that isn't yet assured.
Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been working through the General Services Administration to cancel government leases of office space.
- Several other NOAA buildings briefly appeared on a larger GSA list of buildings the government is looking to sell, including a weather satellite facility in Suitland, Md., and part of NOAA headquarters in Silver Spring, Md.
- That list was taken down from the GSA website for unclear reasons, and now the website says a list is "coming soon."
Zoom out: Another NOAA facility, the Oklahoma-based Radar Operations Center, was on the lease cancellation list provided to NOAA.
- Experts there research and repair the government's fleet of Doppler radars used for detecting severe weather.
- House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) announced on X Friday that the facility, which is in his district, will stay open.
What they're saying: NOAA has declined to comment on personnel matters but said its mission is unchanged.
- "NOAA remains dedicated to providing timely information, research and resources that serve the American public and ensure our nation's environmental and economic resilience," NOAA told Axios last week.
- "We continue to provide weather information, forecasts and warnings pursuant to our public safety mission."
What's next: Van Hollen gave Lutnick until March 12 to respond and also requested a meeting to discuss NOAA.
Go deeper:
Top weather, climate agency NOAA the latest layoff target
