Alejandra Borunda

Or maybe you're in one of the thousands of communities that are trying to prepare for disasters, you know, like hurricanes or wildfires, and you apply for federal funding, that's completely changing too.

Or maybe you're in one of the thousands of communities that are trying to prepare for disasters, you know, like hurricanes or wildfires, and you apply for federal funding, that's completely changing too.

Or maybe you're in one of the thousands of communities that are trying to prepare for disasters, you know, like hurricanes or wildfires, and you apply for federal funding, that's completely changing too.

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

Live from NPR News, I'm Lakshmi Singh.

Yeah, so if you checked the weather on your phone this morning, you interacted with NOAA. These are the scientists that make the weather forecasts. They track hurricanes and tornadoes and floods and droughts. They help warn people about those things. They make nautical charts to keep ships from running aground. They track space weather to make sure commercial flights are safe.

Yeah, so if you checked the weather on your phone this morning, you interacted with NOAA. These are the scientists that make the weather forecasts. They track hurricanes and tornadoes and floods and droughts. They help warn people about those things. They make nautical charts to keep ships from running aground. They track space weather to make sure commercial flights are safe.

Yeah, so if you checked the weather on your phone this morning, you interacted with NOAA. These are the scientists that make the weather forecasts. They track hurricanes and tornadoes and floods and droughts. They help warn people about those things. They make nautical charts to keep ships from running aground. They track space weather to make sure commercial flights are safe.

They manage fisheries. They protect species like whales and corals. I could keep going. They do a lot.

They manage fisheries. They protect species like whales and corals. I could keep going. They do a lot.

They manage fisheries. They protect species like whales and corals. I could keep going. They do a lot.

Yeah, so staffing is definitely one thing. Hundreds of people have been fired so far. We know that's already affecting weather forecasting in some parts of the country. It's delayed the opening of some fishing seasons, which is a big deal for coastal communities. There are plans to essentially eliminate one of the research wings, you know, along with other climate work across the agency.

Yeah, so staffing is definitely one thing. Hundreds of people have been fired so far. We know that's already affecting weather forecasting in some parts of the country. It's delayed the opening of some fishing seasons, which is a big deal for coastal communities. There are plans to essentially eliminate one of the research wings, you know, along with other climate work across the agency.

Yeah, so staffing is definitely one thing. Hundreds of people have been fired so far. We know that's already affecting weather forecasting in some parts of the country. It's delayed the opening of some fishing seasons, which is a big deal for coastal communities. There are plans to essentially eliminate one of the research wings, you know, along with other climate work across the agency.

And there are more budget cuts on the way. So a draft proposal from the White House for 2026 would reduce NOAA's current budget by more than 25%.

And there are more budget cuts on the way. So a draft proposal from the White House for 2026 would reduce NOAA's current budget by more than 25%.

And there are more budget cuts on the way. So a draft proposal from the White House for 2026 would reduce NOAA's current budget by more than 25%.

Yeah, so the budget proposal would keep funding even for the National Weather Service, right? That's the weather forecasting part. But, you know, in practice, they've been hit hard already because of those people that have been fired. And some scientists think they're already seeing weather forecasts get less accurate.

Yeah, so the budget proposal would keep funding even for the National Weather Service, right? That's the weather forecasting part. But, you know, in practice, they've been hit hard already because of those people that have been fired. And some scientists think they're already seeing weather forecasts get less accurate.