Military walks back plan to axe forecast data
The government previously said the data would be discontinued after Thursday.
The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program has collected weather data for military operations for more than 50 years.
Rick Spinrad, who led the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under President Biden, previously told The Hill that getting rid of this data could worsen the country's hurricane forecast abilities.
Navy spokesperson Ferry Gene Baylon said in an email that the meteorology and oceanography center 'had planned to phase out the data as part of a Defense Department modernization effort.'
'But after feedback from government partners, officials found a way to meet modernization goals while keeping the data flowing until the sensor fails or the program formally ends in September 2026,' Baylon said, adding that the September date is not new.
The government cited a 'cybersecurity risk' when it initially announced it was shutting down the data. The Navy spokesperson did not directly address The Hill's question about what happened to this risk.
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