Overview
- The NWS shed roughly 600 employees during a 2025 reorganization that included many long-serving forecasters and about 100 probationary staff, creating a large experience gap in the workforce.
- Federal staffing data show NOAA had about 300 fewer meteorologists and hydrologists by the end of May 2026 than in January 2025, leaving persistent operational shortfalls.
- President Trump granted an emergency hiring authorization in August 2025 to add up to 450 meteorologists, hydrologists and radar technicians through September 2026, and the NWS has onboarded roughly 50 people in recent months.
- Most current job openings are for entry-level roles, former staff warn that the loss of senior forecasters and reduced on-the-job mentorship risk weakening forecasts, local guidance and upper-air data collection during the high-impact season.
- The cuts drew sharp public scrutiny after deadly July 2025 floods in Central Texas and have become a political flashpoint as officials weigh how quickly hiring and training can rebuild forecasting capacity and protect communities.