Senate Moves to Strengthen NOAA Forecasting With $2.9 Billion Proposal
Summary
The Senate unanimously advanced a bipartisan bill to modernize NOAA forecasting and warning systems. The proposal includes a five-year workforce plan and investments in radar, research, and forecasts for severe weather; the Congressional Budget Office estimates implementation would cost about $2.9 billion from 2027 through 2031, if Congress provides the funding.Key Facts
- The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026 passed the Senate unanimously.
- Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell of Washington and Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas led the bill.
- The bill would require NOAA to assess staffing needs and develop a five-year workforce plan.
- The proposal would protect certain forecasting and warning jobs from hiring freezes.
- The bill would support weather radar and forecasting and research related to floods, wildfires, atmospheric rivers, drought, extreme heat, hurricanes, and tornadoes.
- The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill would cost about $2.9 billion from 2027 through 2031, assuming Congress appropriates the necessary funds.
- About 880 NOAA employees were fired in February 2025, and the administration moved to eliminate more than 1,000 additional positions in March.
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