A research meteorologist who served in President-elect Donald Trump’s first administration has warned that the new administration may dismantle the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), citing a catastrophic error and national security concern. Ryan Maue, a former chief scientist at NOAA and White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, wrote in a Sunday opinion article for The New York Times.
Maue’s concerns center around Project 2025, a nearly 900-page document produced by conservative leaders that aims to reform the federal government and reduce waste. While Trump repeatedly distanced himself from the document during his campaign, several of his nominees are linked to it as contributors. Maue argues that the project’s claims about NOAA being overly involved in climate change research are erroneous.
One of Trump’s main campaign promises is to consolidate agencies and review funding allocations. However, Maue warns that this could lead to programs like NOAA being cut, including those whose funding has expired. NOAA conducts scientific research, provides weather forecasts, and supports industries such as energy and agriculture.
Maue emphasizes the importance of NOAA in addressing national security concerns, particularly with regards to extreme weather events. He suggests that instead of dismantling or defunding the agency, it should undergo a modernization strategy to meet the rapidly changing climate. With the Atlantic hurricane season recently ending, Maue’s warnings come at a critical time, as NOAA played a crucial role in tracking and responding to deadly storms such as Hurricane Helene.
Source: https://www.newsweek.com/slashing-noaa-could-national-security-concern-meteorologist-1993774