The United States' weather and climate research capabilities are being crippled by devastating budget cuts that undermine our ability to predict extreme weather events and the long-term impacts of climate change. The recent flash floods in Texas that tragically claimed 78 lives exposed concerning gaps in warning systems and staffing at the National Weather Service.
Key roles responsible for coordinating with local authorities on evacuation orders were left vacant due to funding shortfalls. This failure to adequately warn endangered communities is unacceptable.
Furthermore, the proposed FY2026 budget decimates funding across federal science agencies - the National Science Foundation faces a 55% cut, NASA's Earth science division a 52% cut, and NOAA an alarming 39% cut that entirely eliminates its research division OAR. The USGS and EPA also face crippling cuts of 31% and 53% respectively. Nearly all staff behind NOAA's vital Climate.gov website have already been fired.
These reckless cuts jeopardize America's pioneering work in weather prediction and climate modeling that has saved countless lives and benefited industries from agriculture to urban planning. Gutting funding for meteorology, climate research, and observational programs is short-sighted and endangers our ability to prepare for future disasters.
I urge you to fight to restore full funding and staffing at NOAA, NASA, NSF, EPA, USGS, DOE and other agencies critical to forecasting and mitigating extreme weather and climate change impacts. The safety and economic security of our nation depend on robust investment in these scientific capabilities.
First sent on July 8 by Coleman · 7,303 signers in
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