How staffing shortages at the National Weather Service could put lives at risk - PBS NewsHour

[Rhiannon12866]

The Trump administration’s dismissals of hundreds of experts compiling a key report on climate change is only the latest in a series of science-related rollbacks and cuts. That includes job cuts at the National Weather Service, where an Associated Press analysis found a 20 percent vacancy rate in nearly half its forecast offices. John Yang speaks with AP science writer Seth Borenstein for more. - Aired on 05/03/2025.

[lapfog_1]

1. having consulted for NOAA in my past

while I was working for NASA. I can tell you that the budget dollars spent is the best deal the taxpayers in this country ever got. The savings in accurate weather forecasts that allow farmers to decide when to harvest to reduce loss due to severe weather is just enormous... Not to mention protecting lives and property with accurate tornado and hurricane forecasts. We should be increasing their budget and hiring more scientists and data collectors... not reducing them.

They didn't even mention the weather satellites that are losing budget and may go without proper routine software updates not to mention eventual replacements.

[Rhiannon12866]

2. I agree that this is one of the most serious mistakes they've made - it's sure to cost lives and livelihoods

Is this retribution for the pushback he got when he used a Sharpie to falsely claim that a hurricane was hitting Alabama??