Trump’s proposed NOAA budget cuts would affect public safety and hinder climate research

Not content to propose a devastating 24 percent cut to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Trump administration reportedly also wants to slash the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s budget by 17 percent. A leader in climate science, NOAA, which is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, not only includes the National Weather Service but also conducts and funds research on oceans and protects fisheries and marine mammals. Hardest hit by these funding reductions would be the agency’s research (26 percent cut) and satellite departments (22 percent cut), which provides essential public safety information, such as daily weather forecasting, severe storm warnings, and flood forecasts. A wide range of other vital programs and projects are also threatened by the proposed cuts. For instance, the National Marine Fisheries Service would get cut by 5 percent, hampering its important work providing for sustainable fisheries, safe sources of seafood, and healthy ocean ecosystems. Also targeted for $73 million in cuts is the agency’s Sea Grant program, which funds coastal research at dozens of universities across the country and supports 20,000 jobs annually.