Washington, D.C. – The Trump administration has announced plans to downsize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), leading to the termination of approximately 800 employees, according to sources familiar with the matter. The agency, responsible for weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and environmental research, may see more layoffs in the coming days, potentially resulting in over a thousand job losses by the end of the week.

The affected employees, including scientists and specialists in various fields, received termination notices this week. Many of the layoffs targeted probationary employees, with exceptions made for critical positions in disaster forecasting, such as hurricanes and severe thunderstorms. The National Weather Service, a division of NOAA, is working with the workers’ union to assist those impacted by the sudden job cuts.

Critics of the administration’s decision to reduce NOAA’s workforce argue that the layoffs will severely hamper the agency’s ability to accurately predict and respond to dangerous weather events. Employees across NOAA, including meteorologists and computer engineers, have been affected, with some expressing their disappointment on social media.

Among those laid off was Andrew Hazelton, a meteorology researcher specializing in hurricane forecasting. Hazelton expressed his passion for meteorology and the importance of studying and analyzing severe weather events. The downsizing also impacted departments like the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and the division responsible for enhancing the country’s weather models.

The terminated employees received letters citing lack of fit for current agency needs as the reason for their dismissal. This move comes amidst ongoing concerns about the impact of climate change on extreme weather events, further underscoring the importance of accurate weather forecasting for public safety and property protection.

As NOAA grapples with the aftermath of the layoffs, the future of the agency’s mission to safeguard lives and property remains uncertain. The decision to shrink the workforce has sparked outrage among those in the meteorology and environmental science fields, who fear the long-term consequences on NOAA’s ability to fulfill its crucial role in protecting communities from natural disasters.