Representatives Sheila Cherfilus McCormick (D-FL) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) are spearheading a recent letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick with several other Florida Democrats, urging Lutnick to reverse recent cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) as hurricane season begins.
According to the letter, NOAA has laid off 20% of its staff, including 9% of NWS employees, which they argue could impact storm tracking and weather balloon launching, resulting in critical shortages in Gulf Coast offices.
"These sudden firings at NOAA and NWS directly endanger the health and safety of my constituents and all Floridians," said Rep. Cherfilus McCormick in her press release, adding, "Florida is one of the most hurricane-prone states in the nation. Our families, emergency responders, and local governments rely on NOAA and NWS for accurate, real-time information. Slashing these agencies just as storm season begins is both reckless and dangerous. I'm proud to stand with my Florida colleagues in demanding these job cuts be reversed immediately."
Rep. Wasserman Schultz was harsher in her statement, saying, "The Trump Administration's cruel, short-sighted decision to push out NOAA's critical weather forecasters, data scientists, and storm modelers – just weeks before hurricane season – shows a callous disregard for the safety of all Floridians."
"These are the very experts whose work guides local officials, emergency managers, and families on when to evacuate, when to seek shelter, and how to protect their homes and businesses. Cutting them loose is not just short-sighted, it's dangerous," Rep. Wasserman Schultz continued.
Other cosigners of the letter include Representatives Federica Wilson (D-FL), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Darren Soto (D-FL), and Kathy Castor (D-FL), who all characterized the NOAA/NWS cuts as "outrageous and reckless," "an unacceptable risk," and "leaves our communities vulnerable and uninformed while storms grow more frequent, more severe and more costly."
