NOAA Saves Lives, Say Members of Congress and Advocates as Summer Floods Devastate Communities Nationwide
Members of Congress, former NOAA employees, and environmental advocates voiced their concerns about the Trump Administration’s proposed budget cuts and expressed their support for a fully funded NOAA
WASHINGTON, DC – In the wake of recent, devastating flooding throughout the country, members of Congress, former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) employees, and environmental advocates gathered on Capitol Hill yesterday to deliver one simple message: NOAA saves lives. The group sounded the alarm over proposed federal budget cuts, urging Congress to reject the Trump Administration’s proposal to slash funding for the agency, voicing their strong support for a fully funded NOAA.
Check out photos and videos from the press conference HERE.
“We’re seeing lethal flooding in Texas, record velocity hurricanes from the southwest to the northeast, and record droughts in the Midwest,” said Representative Jamie Raskin (MD-8). “They have mosquitoes in the North Pole now. The whole world’s climate is changing, and we’ve got the carbon kings in oil, gas, and coal trying to sweep everything under the rug…In Montgomery County, we had Sligo Creek, which is a small, shallow creek, rise 10 feet in 30 minutes over the weekend. So this is happening all over the country, and our colleagues just want to stick their heads in the sand.”
“What we’ve seen from the Trump Administration from day one is taking a chainsaw to important services for the American people,” said Senator Chris Van Hollen (MD). “The cuts at NOAA, we’ve already seen the consequences. Essentially, when you get rid of folks at the National Weather Service or other folks who are entrusted to help provide Americans with very important information about our climate, our weather, you do put American lives at risk. People will die because of these cuts. And we’ve already seen the consequences in terrible weather events in places around the country, including in Texas. And they haven’t limited it just to NOAA. They’ve also cut FEMA, which provides emergency relief when you have that kind of flooding. So you need the warning system, and you need the folks who will go in to help save lives. And they’re cutting this at every single juncture.”
Congressional leaders and experts highlighted NOAA’s critical role in protecting American lives and communities. From forecasting severe weather to safeguarding coastal areas and powering search and rescue operations, NOAA’s science and services have stood at the nation’s frontline defense against climate disasters for more than 50 years.
“I want to tell a sad story from Texas, with the drowning of 135 people, including 37 children. Families across our state are in tears,” said Representative Lloyd Doggett (TX-37). “Far and far, a preventable loss has occurred. This resulted from failure at every level of government, from the just negligence of the county government to the indifference of the state to the weakening of the federal response… We need a full accounting and critical understanding of how the cutbacks of NOAA and the National Labor Service contributed to disaster preparedness and the loss of so many lives. The slash and burn approach that Trump, Elon Musk, and DOGE took to NOAA, they were only interested in achieving a body count of federal public servants, not in efficiency or strengthening public safety. And in Texas, we have already paid a terrible price.”
“Let’s be clear: this isn’t belt tightening, this is not getting rid of waste, fraud, and abuse. It is sabotage,” said Representative Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1). “Sabotage of science and sabotage of scientists. And if these cuts pass, Oregon fishers are going to head out without reliable data. Farmers and foresters are going to miss those seasonal forecasts that guide their operations. Coastal communities are going to face floods, fires, and extreme weather without the early warning systems they rely on. Scientists, as we have already seen, with decades of experience, will be pink-slipped. They’re stuck, sidelined, or silenced. We say not on our watch.”
Speakers voiced significant concern over the Administration’s plans for major staffing reductions and rescinded funding, warning that such measures would weaken the agency’s ability to respond to an increasing frequency of extreme weather events and climate emergencies. Former NOAA personnel provided firsthand testimony illustrating how cuts would undermine the agency’s interconnected mission, including research, forecasting, and response capabilities.
“I led 90 House Democrats in demanding that the House Appropriations Committee give NOAA the funding it needs to keep saving lives,” said Representative Gabe Amo (RI-1). “Luckily, the House Appropriations Committee heard our call and largely rejected Trump’s draconian cuts…How can we prepare for the harms of climate change if Trump fires the scientists who study it and shutters the labs where they work? They cannot. I worked with the House Natural Resources Committee ranking member, Huffman, and over 60 House Democrats to lead the Stop NOAA Closures Act. This straightforward bill would prevent Trump from closing NOAA facilities.”
“The Administration’s shortsighted efforts to erode NOAA through illegal terminations and proposed budget cuts are having deadly consequences,” said Quentin Scott, Federal Policy Director, CCAN Action Fund. “Tragically, lives had to be lost for the value of the National Weather Service to be fully appreciated. However, NOAA is not just about weather alerts. NOAA also does critical research at the Office of Atmospheric Research (OAR) to better understand the impacts of climate change on our ability to predict extreme weather events. The Administration proposed to eliminate OAR, but the Senate Appropriations Committee had other plans. The funding mark for NOAA is an encouraging sign that Congress disagrees with the Administration and understands we must invest in the agency’s entire mission. As Congress moves to finalize appropriations, Congress must stand firm to fulfill the will of the people.”
The gathering, organized by CCAN Action Fund and other environmental groups, took place yesterday morning on Capitol Hill. Speakers included Van Hollen, Raskin, Doggett, Amo, and Bonamici, as well as former NOAA Administrator Dr. Rick Spinrad, and other former NOAA employees.
Check out photos and videos from the press conference HERE.
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Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) Action Fund is dedicated to driving change in public policies at the local, state and national level to address the climate crisis. Through voter education, lobbying, and participation in the electoral process, we seek to advance our country’s leadership in the global movement towards clean energy solutions — focusing our efforts primarily in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. We know that a vibrant democracy is central to our success so we work to defend democratic integrity wherever we can.
