Potential Employee Reductions Loom at NOAA

CBS News has learned that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is bracing for a possible reduction in its workforce, with over 1,000 additional employees facing layoffs. As NOAA aligns with directives from the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management, a final plan is to be submitted to the Department of Commerce, involving significant staffing changes.

The Department of Commerce holds the authority to adjust NOAA’s staffing reduction proposal, possibly requesting modifications that could either scale back or enlarge the proposed employee terminations. Alongside these personnel cuts, certain NOAA programs may face discontinuation, although the specific initiatives at risk remain unspecified.

NOAA plays a pivotal role among U.S. federal scientific bodies, offering services ranging from meteorological predictions and coastal rehabilitation to fisheries management and marine trade support. The work of NOAA has a significant influence on more than a third of the nation's economic activities. Earlier this year, NOAA experienced a reduction in staff by 880 positions, mainly affecting probationary employees with less than two years at the agency. Combined past and future cuts could result in NOAA losing about 20% of its total personnel. Before these anticipated adjustments, NOAA employed over 12,000 individuals globally, a majority of whom are scientists and engineers.

One vital component of NOAA, the National Weather Service, is responsible for providing essential weather-related services, including forecasts and severe weather alerts, critical for ensuring public safety. Recent reductions have severely impacted this department due to retirements, buyouts, and dismissals of probationary staff. Errors in dismissals led to some reinstatements, though numbers for reinstated employees at the National Weather Service remain unclear.