Press Releases

Trump-Musk Staffing Cuts Led to Meteorologist Shortages at NWS Jackson, KY Forecast Office, Forcing Hardworking Staff to Scramble - Kennedy Warns of Similar Situations Across the Country

In Speech on the House Floor and Letter to Administration, Kennedy Demands Answers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following the deadly tornado outbreak in Kentucky and Missouri that claimed at least 27 lives, public reports showed that the Jackson, Kentucky National Weather Service (NWS) office was critically understaffed, forcing them to rely on nearby offices to issue life-saving alerts. In response, Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26), ranking member of the House Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee, has issued a letter to the Trump Administration demanding answers regarding ongoing staffing shortages across NWS field offices. In addition, he delivered a speech on the floor highlighting the risk to all Americans, including Western New Yorkers, who face severe weather events during the winter. Kennedy’s letter concluded by noting that extreme weather events are becoming more common, and that it is a matter of when, not if, they will continue to occur.

Congressman Kennedy delivering a speech on the House Floor.

“My heart breaks for those who lost their lives in the recent tornadoes in Kentucky and Missouri,” said Congressman Kennedy. “At the height of tornado season, President Trump and Elon Musk’s decision to slash the National Weather Service made a life-threatening situation even more dangerous. Natural disasters impact all Americans and are not bound by the political whims of Washington. Whether it’s a tornado in the Midwest, a hurricane battering the Southeast, or a blizzard sweeping across Western New York, preparedness saves lives. Every early warning, every rapid deployment, and every ounce of emergency management coordination is the result of decades of investment in the public interest and science.”

In his letter, Kennedy noted the Administration’s budget proposal includes a 27% cut to the NOAA budget, which would eliminate research functions for weather forecasting, slash funding for next generation satellites, and limit ocean data observations. These are all vital tools to protect Americans from extreme weather events. The National Weather Service maintains 122 weather forecast offices, responsible for forecasting and warning services for every state and county in the United States, as well as the territories of Guam and Puerto Rico.

The text of Kennedy’s letter may be found below:

May 21, 2025

Dear Secretary Lutnick and Ms. Grimm:

As the Ranking Member on the House Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee, I write to express deep concern regarding persistent staffing shortages at National Weather Service (NWS) offices across the country and seek urgent clarification on how this administration intends to protect communities in the face of increasingly severe and frequent extreme weather events. 

On May 16th, 2025, a series of deadly tornadoes barreled through Missouri and Kentucky, claiming the lives of at least 27 individuals and leaving many others displaced. Reports following the storm indicated that the NWS office in Jackson, Kentucky, was critically understaffed and unable to fully cover its overnight shifts and relied on nearby offices to issue life-saving alerts. Jackson is just one of several offices currently unable to provide 24/7 forecasting, with more expected to follow suit in the coming days. 

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated issue but part of a troubling national pattern. Across the country, regional NWS offices are facing hiring freezes, “buyouts,” attrition, and unfilled vacancies that not only strain existing staff but impede operations and can, in the worst-case scenario, delay critical life-saving warnings. In addition to the existing staffing issues, the Administration has proposed a 27% cut to NOAA’s budget, which would eliminate research functions for weather forecasting, slash funding for next generation satellites, and limit ocean data observations, all critical in detecting severe storms. These cuts further erode our national resilience as communities nationwide face more frequent floods, fires, hurricanes, and extreme weather events. Given these concerns, I request your response to the following questions by May 30, 2025:

1. What is the administration’s plan to address ongoing staffing shortages across NWS field offices, particularly those currently unable to provide round-the-clock coverage?
2. How were determinations made regarding which NWS offices would NOT have overnight staffing, and what risk analysis was used to make those decisions?
3. Why does a hiring freeze remain in place if there is a clear and growing demand for the services NWS provides? 
4. How will NOAA and NWS offices nationwide maintain forecasting accuracy and public alert capabilities under the proposed funding cuts? 
5. How did you conclude that essential weather forecasting, research, and alerts are no longer a core function of NOAA and were necessary to be eliminated?
6. Is the administration exploring outsourcing or privatization of weather services, and if so, how will it ensure that public safety and equitable access to timely weather alerts are not compromised?

As extreme weather becomes more frequent, it is a matter of when, not if, the next natural disaster will strike. The staffing issues at NWS and the budget cuts at NOAA are serious issues of national security and public safety. I urge the Department of Commerce and NOAA to take immediate action to ensure the National Weather Service has the resources, staff, and support it needs to fulfill its life-saving mission. Without its life-saving services, more people will be without homes, and more people will die. I look forward to your response. 

Sincerely, 

Timothy M. Kennedy

Member of Congress (NY-26)

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