Scoop: Acting NOAA head removed, chief of staff in charge, sources say

• Hann had been overseeing the agency through widespread layoffs with more on the way.

Zoom in: Hann will return to her position as NOAA's deputy undersecretary for operations, while Grimm will presumably hold the role until the Senate determines the fate of Neil Jacobs, President Trump's pick for administrator.

• No reason was given to other NOAA leadership for the change, sources said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak to the news media and feared retribution.
• Grimm inherits an agency under strain from constraints placed on it from the Commerce Department. It will need to ensure continuity of functions despite upcoming early retirements and layoffs this spring or summer.
• She has a background in oceans and fisheries work, based on her LinkedIn profile.

The other side: The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

What we're watching: How Grimm navigates the responsibilities of the office, and whether she pushes back on any pressure to eliminate agency responsibilities in the runup to or wake of the next round of cuts.

Go deeper:

Scoop: NOAA operations impaired by Commerce chief's approval mandate