Trump's NOAA pick vows strong weather forecasting amid criticism
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Neil Jacobs in 2019. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)
President Trump's pick to head NOAA — which includes the National Weather Service — will tell Congress on Wednesday that he wants to make the U.S. a weather forecasting leader.
Why it matters: Neil Jacobs' nomination hearing arrives as Democratic critics question whether NWS staffing reductions hampered performance in the deadly Texas flooding — and whether proposed budget cuts will hinder the very forecasting improvements he's vowing.
Driving the news: "If confirmed, one of my top priorities is to return the United States to the world's leader in global weather forecast modeling capability," he plans to tell the Senate Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee tomorrow, per prepared testimony obtained by Axios.
- "As a matter of public safety, national security, and national pride, we will restore American technological superiority for this vital service for the country and our military serving around the world," it states.
- This requires new tech, "novel" approaches, and partnering with industry, it states.
The big picture: NWS issued multiple flood warnings and watches well ahead of the storm. But it faces questions about other aspects of the tragedy.
- Miami-based meteorologist John Morales said on X the vacancies did not impact the warning process, but may have affected coordination with emergency managers.
Friction point: Many meteorologists have defended NWS' performance.
- White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson in a statement to outlets including Axios called criticism of the NWS' action and funding cuts accusations "shameful and disgusting" and accused critics of seeking to politicize a disaster, Axios' Rebecca Falconer reports.
State of play: The Trump administration is proposing deep cuts to NOAA's fiscal year 2026 budget and nixing some research areas altogether, and the recently signed budget law rescinds some FY '25 funding.
- The proposed cuts would thwart R&D into new forecasting technologies, including efforts to forecast flash floods, CNN reports.
Catch up quick: Jacobs, a meteorologist, is up for the role he held in an acting capacity during Trump's first term.
- He has a background in computer modeling and could help bolster the agency's weather forecasting and AI capabilities.
- He would, however, come with some baggage, having been reprimanded by Commerce's Inspector General — along with others — for his role in the episode known as "Sharpiegate."
What they're saying: "I worry about Dr. Jacobs' ability to be the leader the country needs, especially as climate change is supercharging extreme weather across the United States," said Carlos Martinez, a senior climate scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists.
What we're watching: Lawmakers' likely questions about funding and other NWS matters at his nomination hearing.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that Democrats have criticized the National Weather Service and to clarify that many meteorologists have defended NWS's performance.
