Weatherman warns experts can no longer predict hurricanes because of DOGE's ‘sledgehammer attack' on research
John Morales, a veteran meteorologist with NBC Miami, said that traditionally, he would be able to warn or reassure his viewers about the trajectory of a powerful storm.
Now, he says this would no longer be the case.
'I am here to tell you that I am not sure I can do that this year,' he said before taking a long pause.
Earlier in the segment, Morales showed an archival news clip of him covering Hurricane Dorian, a Category 5 storm that tore through the Bahamas in 2019.
'Remember that? Lots of people in Florida were concerned, the hurricane was heading here,' he said during his Tuesday broadcast, after showing the clip. The storm did not significantly impact the Sunshine State, as Morales predicted.
He then explained that, due to 'the cuts, the gutting, the sledgehammer attack on science in general,' he could not guarantee accurate forecasting for viewers.
Morales continued to explain how changes to leadership in science had had a 'multigenerational impact on science in this country.'
'But specifically, let's talk about the federal government cuts to the National Weather Service and to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,' he said, before explaining that central and south Florida NWS offices are currently '20 to 40 percent understaffed.'
He added that there had been a 20 percent reduction in weather balloon monitoring in the U.S, leading to the quality of the forecasting to be 'degraded.'
Morales reiterated his concerns in an opinion piece for NBC Miami's website.
Staffing shortages 'long stretches of impending severe weather — like a hurricane — could lead to mistakes by tired skeleton crews that can only work so many back-to-back shifts,' he wrote.
As head of the DOGE, Elon Musk, promised to cut $1 trillion from the federal budget by September 30 by ending "waste, fraud, and abuse" — a downgrade from his $2 trillion promise on the campaign trail. He claimed that 'most of the work' required to make this happen would be done within 130 days.
'NOAA leadership is taking steps to address those who took a voluntary early retirement option. NWS continues to conduct short-term Temporary Duty assignments (TDYs), and is in the process of conducting a series of Reassignment Opportunity Notices (RONs) to fill roles at NWS field locations with the greatest operational need.'
'Additionally, a targeted number of permanent, mission-critical field positions will soon be advertised under an exception to the Department-wide hiring freeze to further stabilize frontline operations,' the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration told The Independent in a statement.
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