NATIONWIDE – The National Weather Service (NWS), an agency operating under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has begun the process of hiring over 100 new employees to stabilize its operations after facing nearly 600 job cuts through layoffs and retirements earlier this year.

Key Facts:

• Re-Hiring Initiative: The National Weather Service has been granted an exemption to a government-wide hiring freeze, allowing it to fill 126 critical positions, including meteorologists, hydrologists, physical scientists, and electronics technicians.
• Previous Staff Reductions: Earlier in 2025, the NWS experienced a reduction of nearly 600 positions due to layoffs and retirements, leading to concerns about operational integrity and the agency’s ability to provide timely and accurate forecasts.
• Hurricane Season Concerns: The re-hiring initiative comes at the beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season, with forecasters predicting above-average activity, intensifying public and expert scrutiny of the agency’s staffing levels and preparedness.

The move to re-hire comes after widespread concern from meteorologists, former agency officials, and public representatives regarding the impact of reduced staffing on the NWS’s ability to issue accurate and timely weather warnings, especially as the Atlantic hurricane season officially begins.

What is the National Weather Service, and How Does it Relate to NOAA?

Many Americans are familiar with weather forecasts, but the organizational structure behind them may be less clear. The National Weather Service (NWS) is a federal agency responsible for providing weather forecasts, warnings of hazardous weather, and other weather-related products to the public for the protection of life and property. It operates under the umbrella of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which is itself an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce. NOAA’s broader mission includes understanding and predicting changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts, as well as conserving and managing coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. The NWS is a critical component of NOAA, directly delivering the essential weather information that impacts daily life and emergency preparedness.

The Impact of Recent Federal Firing and Budget Cuts

In recent memory, federal agencies across the board have faced significant budget cuts and corresponding staff reductions, often leading to concerns about service delivery. The National Weather Service was particularly affected, losing hundreds of experienced personnel. These cuts led to “degraded operations” in some forecasting offices, with reports of some no longer being staffed overnight and others curtailing the twice-daily launches of weather balloons. These balloons collect vital atmospheric data that feeds into forecast models, making their reduction a significant concern for forecast accuracy. Many meteorologists remaining on staff were reportedly stretched thin, being asked to cover shifts and fill gaps across the country on short-term assignments.

Why the Sudden Reversal?

The decision to re-hire follows growing public and expert criticism, particularly as the nation experiences a relentless pace of severe weather events. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who oversees NOAA, recently stated that the agency has “never been more prepared for hurricane season.” However, climate scientists and former agency directors challenged this claim, pointing to the staffing shortages and the White House’s proposal for a roughly $2 billion budget cut for NOAA. Five former directors of the National Weather Service co-signed an open letter expressing their “worst nightmare” of understaffed offices leading to “needless loss of life.” Representative Mike Flood, a Republican from Nebraska, also played a role in advocating for the restoration of staff positions, highlighting the bipartisan concern over the agency’s capacity.

The Road Ahead for the National Weather Service

While the authorization to hire 126 new positions is a positive step, former NOAA Undersecretary Mary Glackin noted that filling these roles can take months, with many positions potentially not filled until September at the earliest. This means the NWS will still be operating with a significant deficit of personnel for much of the active hurricane season. Concerns remain that this re-hiring is “putting a band-aid on a rather large wound,” given the hundreds of positions still unfilled compared to pre-cut levels. However, the re-hiring effort aims to address the most pressing “operational needs” at field offices. Many of the approximately 100 probationary NWS employees who were terminated during the initial job cuts may reapply, potentially expediting the training process for some roles.