LOUISVILLE, Ky. — More than 800 people have been laid off within National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service. It is the latest federal agency targeted by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
“This is a vital asset that will make us less prepared. And our worry will cost human lives,” Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Kentucky, said bluntly.
A spokesperson for the NWS did not provide the number of jobs effected by layoffs at the state’s three forecast offices in Paducah, Louisville and Jackson when asked by Spectrum News.
“Per long-standing practice, we are not discussing internal personnel and management matters. NOAA remains dedicated to its mission, providing timely information, research and resources that serve the American public and ensure our nation’s environmental and economic resilience,” said Susan Buchanan from the NWS in a statement. “We continue to provide weather information, forecasts and warnings pursuant to our public safety mission.”
Thursday, NWS Louisville announced the retirement of Meteorologist In Charge John Gordon, a well-known figure during severe weather events. Gordon leaves the NWS after near 40 years of services, the last 20 of which being in Louisville.
“The loss to our state is going to be hard to replace. John was a good guy,” said. Daniel Wilson, chief forecaster for Storm Alert Center.
Wilson has known Gordon for many years, and recalls the several times they spent surveying the paths of tornadoes across Kentucky.
“It’s very hard for me because John and me have traveled several miles locally, walking through debris, surveying damage,” he explained.
Wilson said Gordon loved doing his part to keep people safe and adds his immense knowledge base of this area’s weather helped to just that.
“They may be working in a different environment, you know, so we just need to hold them close to us and do what we can to support them,” Wilson said.
Congressman Morgan McGarvey, Kentucky’s only Democrat in Washington, D.C., offered his reaction to the layoffs.
“Look just this year at all of the natural weather events we have had. We need people at the National Weather Service who can provide advance warning to areas all over the country, some of our remote areas that might not be expecting a hurricane or might not be expecting flooding, so that it can literally save people’s lives,” McGarvey said.
Wilson believes now more than ever, people need to be proactive about ensuring they can receive weather information during an emergency.
It is unclear at this time if additional layoffs will happen within the NWS or NOAA.