National Weather Service, FEMA start hurricane season under a cloud

Amid warnings from NOAA of a busy hurricane season with 13 to 19 named storms, concerns are rising over the Trump administration’s workforce reductions at the National Weather Service and FEMA. The NWS, part of the Commerce Department, has lost 600 employees (15% of its staff) through layoffs or buyouts in the last four months, while FEMA has seen 2,000 of its 6,100 employees depart since January. Last year, the Atlantic had 18 named storms, 11 hurricanes, and five hit the U.S., causing significant damage. Lawmakers are calling for action to prevent further deterioration in the nation’s weather readiness and are proposing changes to FEMA, as the administration’s plans to potentially dismantle the agency have raised alarms.