19-03-2025
National Weather Service could face potential cuts amid workforce layoffs
SLIDELL, La. (Louisiana First) — The National Weather Service (NWS) plays a crucial role in ensuring public safety, providing weather forecasts, warnings, and all-hazard alerts.
Lauren Nash, a meteorologist with the NWS in Southeast Louisiana, highlighted the importance of the service in everyday life.
'Really, the foundation of almost all meteorology, a lot of the weather you see, and all hazard alerts are coming from us,' Nash said. 'We see the importance of NWS every day. People often don't realize how much we're doing until the bad weather hits.'
From tornado and hurricane warnings to dense fog advisories and extreme heat alerts, Nash pointed out that the NWS is responsible for keeping people informed, especially during dangerous weather events.
'Those cell phone alerts saying 'take shelter'—that's us. We're here 24/7, 365 days a year,' she added.
However, recent concerns have surfaced regarding the potential impact of staffing cuts at the NWS. The Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, reportedly plans to lay off approximately 10% of its workforce, which could affect more than a thousand employees and potentially impact forecasting.
A Republican member of Congress commented on the cuts, saying, 'He's helping us uncover all the spending and letting us know where the waste is.'
Despite the uncertainty, Nash emphasized that the NWS' work goes beyond just weather alerts.
'If you've flown recently, the weather observation and forecast for clearance were provided by the NWS. If that observation goes down, our technicians fix it. If those forecasts go down, planes don't fly,' said Nash.
Nash also highlighted the NWS' support for first responders, particularly in emergencies such as the recent California wildfires.
'We work with first responders, coordinating efforts to ensure public safety,' she said.
Even with potential job cuts, Nash reassures that NWS' commitment to public safety remains a top priority.
'If something happens to our office, neighboring offices like Mobile, Lake Charles, or Jacksonville can take over,' Nash said.
She concluded by expressing her confidence in the agency's strength.
'The NWS is a strong agency,' she said. 'I will support any office, near or far, if cuts affect my colleagues. Public safety will always come first.'
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