ICYMI: WEMU: Michigan officials have questions on NWS tornado warning system

The Trump administration has gutted the National Weather Service, pushing the agency to a breaking point 

Washington, DC – As deadly severe storms threaten Midwestern states, state officials in Michigan, including Governor Gretchen Whitmer, are sounding the alarm on how cuts from Trump and Republican lawmakers to the National Weather Service (NWS) have left communities vulnerable to extreme weather like the deadly tornadoes that touched down in southwest Michigan. Michigan Republicans Representatives Bill Huizenga and Tom Barrett both voted to slash weather forecasting funding in the One Big Beautiful Bill. 

NWS has been plagued by staffing shortages since Trump took office and gutted the agency, severely limiting their forecasting capabilities and putting Americans in danger. Nearly 600 NWS employees lost their jobs due to cuts from the Trump administration, forcing the agency to eliminate or reduce weather balloon launches. Trump’s cuts have been responsible for hindering forecasting during other extreme weather events, including deadly flooding in Alaska that left thousands scrambling to evacuate. 

WEMU: Michigan officials have questions on NWS tornado warning system

Governor Gretchen Whitmer is among those asking why no National Weather Service tornado watch was issued near Union City during a deadly storm and whether that was due to budget cuts by the Trump administration. The tornadoes caused at least four deaths and widespread devastation across three counties in southwest Michigan last week…

State officials and members of the public are asking whether more could have been done to track and prepare for the storms and tornadoes.

State Senator Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo) represents another southwest Michigan community struck by tornadoes two years ago. The Democratic lawmaker chairs the Senate Energy and Environment Committee and is also a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

“First, we’ve got to be able to have the best ways to prevent damage and loss of life from terrible weather events as much as possible, and that includes the ability to best know what’s coming,” McCann said.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has questioned whether the NWS fell short of its responsibility, stating it has an obligation to keep the public informed when a weather-related crisis is imminent, and she called for a federal investigation.