Trump Cuts Leave Forecasting Offices Understaffed, Make States Less Prepared for Disasters

Washington, D.C. — As extreme weather and flooding devastated the Midwest and South and killed 20 people, Trump’s cuts are making states and local communities less prepared for disasters. Trump’s cuts have left local weather forecasting offices dangerously understaffed, threatening the accuracy of the forecasting data used in lifesaving extreme weather alerts that communities rely on. Trump has also gutted critical disaster preparedness aid, leaving states without funding and resources they depend on to prepare for extreme weather events.  

Trump is making us less prepared for disasters: 

• Trump’s cuts have left nearly half of National Weather Service forecast offices with 20% vacancy rates, forcing some local meteorologists to choose “between gathering information that will help in the future and warning about immediate danger” during extreme weather. 
• Trump’s cuts to NWS staff have already halted or reduced weather balloon launches in at least 11 locations across the country, threatening the accuracy of forecasts and putting Americans facing tornados and other extreme weather at risk.  
• Trump gutted federal disaster aid, leaving states without necessary funding and support to prepare for extreme weather events.