Hundreds of employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) were laid off Thursday as the Trump administration, through its newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), continues implementing deep cuts across the federal workforce.
According to a congressional source, the layoffs impacted 880 NOAA employees, marking one of the largest reductions in staffing at the agency in recent years. An administration official told CBS News that the layoffs amounted to approximately 5% of NOAA’s workforce and asserted that no personnel deemed “critical” to NOAA’s mission—such as National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists—were affected.
However, this claim has been strongly disputed by sources within the agency. An NWS employee, speaking on condition of anonymity, told CBS News that some meteorologists were included in the cuts, raising concerns about the potential impact on weather forecasting and climate research.
Layoff Notices and Justifications
Laid-off employees, particularly those in their probationary periods, were notified via email on Thursday. The notice cited federal guidance on probationary periods, stating:
“OPM has advised that ‘[p]robationary periods are an essential tool for agencies to assess employee performance and manage staffing levels.’ In light of that guidance, the Agency finds that you are not fit for continued employment because your ability, knowledge, and/or skills do not fit the Agency’s current needs.”
The decision to target probationary employees has drawn criticism, with many seeing it as an administrative loophole to downsize the workforce without triggering traditional layoff protections.
A source within the National Weather Service told CBS News that approximately 400 employees were in a probationary period at the time of the layoffs, though it remains unclear how many of them were included in Thursday’s job cuts.
One of those affected was Tom DiLiberto, a climate and weather scientist who had worked with NOAA since 2010, first as a contractor and later as a federal employee. He had been two weeks away from completing his probationary period when he was laid off.
“My career with NOAA has been dedicated to helping the public understand and prepare for extreme weather events,” DiLiberto said. “It’s hard to see these cuts happening at a time when accurate forecasting is more important than ever.”
Impacts on NOAA’s Mission and Services
The layoffs have raised serious concerns among scientists, meteorologists, and lawmakers about the potential impact on NOAA’s ability to carry out its mission. NOAA plays a critical role in tracking hurricanes, monitoring climate change, and providing life-saving weather forecasts through the National Weather Service.
Several experts have warned that downsizing the agency could have severe consequences, particularly as climate-related disasters become more frequent.
“The timing of these cuts is alarming,” said Dr. Jane Hollister, a former NOAA senior scientist. “We’re seeing more extreme weather events, from hurricanes to wildfires, and reducing the workforce that helps predict and mitigate these disasters puts people’s lives at risk.”
Political Reactions and Fallout
The layoffs are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to shrink the federal government, a key priority of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The department was formed in 2024 to streamline federal agencies and reduce spending, but critics argue that it has primarily served as a mechanism for mass layoffs.
Democrats and some moderate Republicans have strongly condemned the NOAA cuts, warning that they could undermine public safety.
“This administration is slashing critical agencies under the guise of ‘efficiency,’ but what they’re really doing is gutting science,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). “Cutting NOAA means weaker hurricane tracking, less accurate weather forecasting, and a rollback of climate research at a time when we need it most.”
Republicans who support the cuts argue that they are necessary to rein in government spending. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) defended the decision, stating:
“These agencies have become bloated and inefficient. We need a federal government that serves the American people without wasting taxpayer dollars. Streamlining NOAA is part of that effort.”
Broader Implications for Science and Climate Research
The layoffs at NOAA are the latest in a series of reductions that have affected federal scientific agencies, raising concerns about the future of climate research and environmental policy in the U.S.
Since taking office, the Trump administration has:
- Cut funding for climate science programs at NASA and NOAA
- Rolled back regulations on emissions and environmental protections
- Reduced federal investment in renewable energy research
“This is part of a pattern,” said Dr. Michael Mann, a leading climate scientist. “By weakening agencies like NOAA, they are effectively erasing climate science from the federal government’s priorities. And that’s dangerous.”
What’s Next?
With the layoffs now in effect, attention is turning to whether Congress will intervene. Several lawmakers have vowed to fight the cuts, and legal challenges may arise if it is found that employees were dismissed unfairly.
Meanwhile, unions representing federal workers, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), have signaled plans to push back against the workforce reductions.
“We will not stand by while this administration dismantles the institutions that protect public safety and scientific integrity,” said AFGE President Everett Kelley. “This fight is far from over.”
For now, however, the hundreds of NOAA employees who lost their jobs face an uncertain future, and the effects of these cuts on weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and disaster preparedness remain to be seen.