NOAA Nominee Vows to Rebuild Weather Service Staffing | JQJO

Neil Jacobs, President Trump's nominee to lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), promised to prioritize restoring staffing at the National Weather Service (NWS). NWS has faced significant personnel cuts under the Trump administration, leading to criticism following recent deadly Texas floods. Jacobs committed to reversing this trend, emphasizing community engagement and utilizing direct hire authority to expedite the process. He acknowledged challenges including a government-wide hiring freeze and competition from the private sector, but expressed confidence in his ability to attract qualified personnel by highlighting the importance of the NWS's mission. Despite supporting a proposed 27% budget cut for NOAA, Jacobs assured senators that "mission-essential functions" would be maintained.