01-03-2025
NOAA layoffs impacting National Weather Services workers in Oklahoma
NORMAN, Okla. (KFOR) — Hundreds of weather forecasters were fired in the latest wave of nationwide DOGE cuts on Thursday.
The Associated Press reports that the cuts account for about 10% of NOAA's workforce.
AP is also reporting job cuts with 375 probationary employees in the National Weather Service nationwide.
We can't confirm the number of firings at offices in Norman or Tulsa.
The National Weather Service sent News 4 a statement:
We are not discussing internal personnel and management matters. NOAA remains dedicated to its mission, providing timely information, research, and resources that serve the American public and ensure our nation's environmental and economic resilience.
Susan Buchanan, NWS Public Affairs
'No transparency': Oklahoma's federal lawmakers mostly quiet amid federal layoffs
Gayland Kitch is the Director of Emergency Management for the City of Moore.
'Much of the data, almost all of the data, the observations, the balloon launches, the radars all come from our National Weather Service,' Kitch said.
You may be wondering what's next as severe weather season approaches.
Kitch said he can't speak on the federal layoffs because he doesn't yet know the effects it will have.
Norman's new mayor-elect, Stephen Holman, addressed the layoffs on social media.
'Reducing staffing at such a vital institution could have serious consequences for public safety and disaster preparedness,' Holman said
'It's highly important that we all work together,' Kitch said. 'We all have a piece of the puzzle and the bottom line is to make sure that the people who are in our cities and towns and our communities are safe.'
The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management also sent News 4 a statement about the layoffs:
Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management works very closely with our partners at the National Weather Service and we rely heavily on their expertise and the services they provide. Oklahoma is covered by four National Weather Service Forecast Offices across the state from the panhandle down to McCurtain County in southeast Oklahoma, so we could certainly see impacts from changes to those offices as well as to the National Weather Center and the Tulsa River Forecast Center. We are closely monitoring this issue for further information on the specifics of those impacts.
Keli Cain, OEM
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