The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Monday it will hire for “mission-critical field positions” amid expert warnings that the National Weather Service has been cut too sharply just as hurricane season arrives.
An agency spokesperson said in a statement the positions will be advertised under a temporary reprieve from the federal government’s widespread hiring pause “to further stabilize frontline operations.” NOAA also said they are filling some field office openings by reassigning staff, including some temporary hires.
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency cuts gutted NWS and NOAA — which provide daily weather forecasts, up-to-the-minute severe storm warnings, climate monitoring and extreme weather tracking — earlier this year.
By April, nearly half of NWS forecast offices had 20% vacancy rates.
The weather service’s mission includes warning people in danger with enough time to evacuate or find safe shelter. The cuts forced weather forecast offices to reduce their hours or no longer staff overnight shifts in less critical periods.
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