Press Releases

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) announced that every Florida Congressional Democrat wrote the Trump Administration to warn that cuts to meteorologists and weather forecasting resources pose an immediate threat to hurricane preparedness and extreme weather response efforts in Florida and across the nation.

“Investments in weather forecasting and emergency preparedness are essential to our national security and economic stability, and we strongly oppose any actions that weaken our ability to protect lives and property from natural disasters,” their letter to Office of Management & Budget Director Russell Vought said. Those who signed it include Reps.: Kathy Castor, Frederica Wilson, Lois Frankel, Darren Soto, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Maxwell Frost and Jared Moskowitz.

Democrats cautioned that workforce reductions by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and National Weather Service (NWS) would “leave our state more vulnerable to extreme weather, potentially increasing the cost of disaster response and recovery while putting lives at greater risk.” No Florida Republican House member signed on to the warning letter. 

“Florida is ground zero for climate change-driven extreme storms, and I’m appalled President Trump is weakening our nation’s weather forecasting resources and inviting needless added risk to property and lives,” said Wasserman Schultz. “I crafted this letter to protect NOAA and the NWS without partisan rhetoric, so my Republican colleagues could comfortably join forces with us. Sadly, they refused to unite around our residents’ safety. I hope they speak privately with the President to head off this reckless effort. If they don’t, I pray that none of them have reason to regret not speaking up.”

“Slashing the workforces at NWS and NOAA cripples their ability to warn and protect the public, endangering millions of Americans—especially those in coastal and storm-prone regions like the Tampa Bay area,” said Castor. “These cuts are not just irresponsible; they are deathly dangerous and will leave us vulnerable to hurricanes and other disasters.” 

“Florida has been battered by hurricanes and tornadoes year after year, and we’ve seen firsthand how the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration saves lives—tracking storms, issuing life-or-death forecasts, and helping communities prepare before disaster strikes,” said Frankel. “Slashing hundreds of NOAA jobs isn’t just reckless—it’s a catastrophe waiting to happen. When the next storm barrels toward us, who will sound the alarm and keep our families safe? These are cuts we can’t afford.”

“Here in South Florida, families have been hit hard by severe hurricanes, catastrophic flooding, and other natural disasters,” said Cherfilus-McCormick. “Abrupt workforce cuts at NOAA and NWS will only make it more difficult for our communities to get ahead before the next storm arrives.” 

Read the signed letter here, or below:

Dear Director Vought:  

We write to express our deep concern over the recent workforce reductions at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) as part of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative. These cuts, particularly those affecting meteorologists and weather forecasters, pose an immediate and severe threat to hurricane preparedness and response in Florida and across the nation.

Florida is no stranger to the devastating impacts of hurricanes, and our communities depend on NOAA’s accurate and timely forecasting to make life-saving decisions. Last year, NOAA achieved record accuracy in hurricane tracking, which enabled emergency responders and residents to take appropriate precautions, saving lives and mitigating economic losses. The reduction of approximately 10% of NOAA’s workforce, including critical forecasters, raises serious concerns about the agency’s ability to provide reliable forecasts, particularly as we head into another hurricane season.

These cuts are not just numbers on a balance sheet—they directly impact public safety, emergency preparedness, and our ability to protect the people of Florida. Reducing NOAA’s capacity to track and forecast severe weather events will leave our state more vulnerable to extreme weather, potentially increasing the cost of disaster response and recovery while putting lives at greater risk.

We urge you to reconsider these reductions and ensure that NOAA and the National Weather Service maintain the staffing and resources necessary to fulfill their vital mission. Investments in weather forecasting and emergency preparedness are essential to our national security and economic stability, and we strongly oppose any actions that weaken our ability to protect lives and property from natural disasters.

We appreciate your attention to this critical issue and look forward to your response on how the Administration plans to maintain the integrity of hurricane forecasting and public safety efforts.

Sincerely,

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