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Senate appropriators press Commerce on NOAA staffing, forecasting operations and hiring freeze
Summary
Senators pressed Commerce Secretary Lutnick on proposed budget cuts to NOAA, a recent hiring freeze and disruptions to 24/7 operations at several National Weather Service forecast offices; the secretary said meteorologists would be staffed and promised follow-up information.
Senate appropriators pressed Department of Commerce Secretary Lutnick on June 4 about cuts in the department's fiscal 2026 budget proposal and their potential effects on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including round‑the‑clock operations at National Weather Service forecast offices.
The exchange came after the subcommittee chair and members said the department’s budget request — which committee members described as proposing a 16.5% overall reduction to department budget authority and targeted cuts to agencies including NOAA — left them without sufficient detail about how the agency would maintain public‑safety functions. Senator Chris Van Hollen, the subcommittee's ranking member, said employees and communities have experienced “large‑scale” workforce changes and sought the department’s reorganization and reduction‑in‑force (RIF) plans as context for the budget review.
The hearing focused on whether staffing cuts had already…
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