NOAA
Big Ugly Budget Cuts to NOAA
Put Delaware County,
Upstate NY at Risk
Meteorologists and climate scientists are raising alarms over major budget cuts proposed for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), warning they will cripple the nation’s ability to forecast and respond to extreme weather—putting lives at risk.
After a round of staff cuts in February made by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), cuts in Trump’s budget bill require NOAA to make additional reductions—slashing staff by 20% overall and cutting more than 25% of its $6 billion budget. Analysts say these cuts would roll back NOAA’s capabilities to levels not seen since the 1950s, both in its scientific footing and fiscally (even adjusted for inflation). The result: a serious threat to public safety.
NOAA oversees critical weather services nationwide, including the National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Hurricane Center (NHC). It maintains a network of radars, satellites, and weather balloons used to monitor and forecast storms. In Delaware County, these services are essential—for our farmers, ski centers, wind farms (planned for 2028), schools, and especially our most vulnerable residents.
More alarming, the proposed budget nearly eliminates NOAA’s Oceanic and Atmospheric Research division (OAR), cutting it by 75%. OAR is responsible for vital climate and ocean research, fisheries management and sustainability, endangered species protection, and the long-term study of climate change. This includes tools that help local farmers plan harvests, that predict floods and protect water resources. Gutting OAR would undermine our food systems, local economies, and disaster preparedness—not only in Delaware County, but across the Northeast.
Another casualty: NOAA’s satellite program. The geostationary satellites that power modern weather prediction are facing a 44% cut. The agency currently operates five satellites and had been preparing next-generation systems set for launch in 2032—now at risk of cancellation.
These cuts come just as climate change is supercharging the Atlantic, increasing the likelihood of severe hurricanes and flooding. Experts warn that slashing both NOAA and FEMA (which is also on the chopping block this year) could be catastrophic for New York communities. Just last week, a hurricane tore through Oneida County, causing a roof collapse that killed twin boys and an adult. Last September, Delaware County received a Major Disaster Declaration caused by Tropical Storm Debby. As extreme weather worsens, cutting the very programs that protect us is reckless and dangerous. As extreme weather worsens, cutting the very programs that protect us is reckless and dangerous.
Despite White House assurances that NOAA is prepared for this year’s hurricane season, more than 1,000 NOAA staff were laid off or resigned earlier this year—600 from the National Weather Service. Many local NWS offices are now understaffed, needing meteorologists, especially concerning in hurricane-prone areas. That means less timely, less accurate emergency information when we need it most.
So why do budget cuts target NOAA? First, many of the cuts are directly aimed at defunding climate and ocean research—seemingly because climate change is no longer a priority in Washington but some also report possible financial opportunities related to fossil fuels. Second, the administration appears intent on privatizing weather services currently provided free to the public. That shift to commercialized weather services would benefit corporate interests while stripping away one of our most reliable and essential public resources.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), ranking Democrat on the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, put it bluntly: “What NOAA does is crucial to lifesaving weather research and services. This budget will leave NOAA hollowed out and unable to perform its lifesaving work.”
Former NOAA Deputy Undersecretary Mary Glackin, who served over several administrations, calls the cuts “monumental” and agrees the budget proposal “… would decimate the laboratory systems we have with universities.” Glackin added, memorably, “If you’re cutting your research, you don’t care about tomorrow.” Recovering from such damage, she warns, would take a very long time.
