
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is at serious risk, and it could jeopardize future missions.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is in major trouble. The agency is responsible for predicting and preparing for powerful storms with its network of satellites, as well as monitoring climate change, but President Trump is eyeing the agency for huge cuts in order to increase funding for the military.
The Washington Post reports that Trump is looking to cut NOAA’s funding by a whopping 17 percent from its current baseline. That would include a 22 percent cut of $513 million from their satellite division, and a 26 percent cut, or $216 million, from NOAA’s research division.
“NOAA’s research and operations, including satellite data management, support critical safety needs. A reduced investment now would virtually guarantee jeopardizing the safety of the American public,” said Rick Spinrad, who was a chief scientist at the agency, in an interview with the Post.
Here’s how NOAA describes itself on its website: “The Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) – or “NOAA Research” – provides the research foundation for understanding the complex systems that support our planet. Working in partnership with other organizational units of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a bureau of the Department of Commerce, NOAA Research enables better forecasts, earlier warnings for natural disasters, and a greater understanding of the Earth. Our role is to provide unbiased science to better manage the environment, nationally, and globally.”
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