FILE - The 好色tv Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ship Okeanos Explorer is seen at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP,File)
FILE - The 好色tv Weather Service monitoring station is seen in Brownville, Texas, May 23, 2014. (Valley Morning Star/Valley Morning Star via AP, File)
AP DD**NY**
FILE - The 好色tv Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Ship Okeanos Explorer is seen at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP,File)
The 好色tv Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Monday it will hire for 鈥渕ission-critical field positions鈥 amid expert warnings that the 好色tv Weather Service has been cut too sharply just as hurricane season arrives.
An agency spokesperson said in a statement the positions will be advertised under a temporary reprieve from the federal government's widespread hiring pause 鈥渢o further stabilize frontline operations.鈥 NOAA also said they are filling some field office openings by reassigning staff, including some temporary hires.
The agency didn't say how many jobs would be posted and refused to provide more details.
Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency cuts gutted NWS and NOAA 鈥 which provide daily weather forecasts, up-to-the-minute severe storm warnings, climate monitoring and extreme weather tracking 鈥 earlier this year.
were put on probationary status in February, followed by a later round of . By April, nearly half of NWS forecast offices . The Federal Emergency Management Agency has also been affected.
The new hires would be seen by the scientific community as especially imperative as the agency predicts a and . In recent years, has fueled more .
The weather service's mission includes warning people in danger with enough time to evacuate or find safe shelter. The cuts forced weather forecast offices to reduce their hours or no longer staff overnight shifts in less critical periods.
Insiders and experts have warned of the consequences that a staffing shortage would mean for amid extreme weather and .
鈥淚n 2024, NOAA was able to offer some of its most accurate weather forecasting to date for active hurricanes," said Union of Concerned Scientists science fellow Marc Alessi. "These incredibly accurate forecasts were made possible by a fully funded NOAA.
鈥淒espite the worsening climate and extreme weather impacts being felt across the country, the Trump administration has proceeded with its inhumane agenda that will leave people on the frontlines of disasters at greater risk,鈥 Alessi added.
___
Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate reporter. Follow her on X: . Reach her at ast.john@ap.org.
___
Read more of AP’s climate coverage at
___
The Associated Press鈥 climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP鈥檚 for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at .
