As a former member of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and a climate expert, I strongly warn that dismantling or defunding the agency would be a catastrophic error. Instead, we should modernize NOAA to better prepare the US for extreme weather events.
Established in 1970 by President Richard Nixon, NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the climate, weather, ocean, and coasts. The National Weather Service (NWS) provides vital services like daily forecasts and timely warnings of severe storms, hurricanes, and blizzards. These services are essential for public safety and cannot be adequately replaced by the private sector.
NOAA’s expertise is particularly valuable given its non-partisan nature, as weather forecasting is considered a neutral field. Unfortunately, Congress has piled more responsibilities on the agency without sufficient funding to keep up with the demands.
To address these challenges, I propose upgrading NOAA’s aging systems, modernizing emergency communication systems, and leading a new center that coordinates disjointed efforts across government, academia, the military, and the private sector.
Investing in NOAA would not only enhance public safety but also boost the US economy. By providing accurate weather forecasts and timely warnings, NOAA can help reduce human deaths from extreme weather events. I urge the Republican-controlled Congress to invest in NOAA’s future rather than adopting a sledgehammer approach that would harm the agency’s capabilities.
The risks of climate change are real, and we need an all-hands-on-deck approach to address them. Building a weather-ready nation for the future requires bipartisan support and investment in agencies like NOAA. By preserving its critical role in climate forecasting, Republicans can ensure that Americans are better prepared for and resilient in the face of extreme weather events.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/01/opinion/doge-musk-ramaswamy-noaa.html