NWS Rehiring 450 After Deep Staff Cuts, Closures

The National Weather Service (NWS) has been authorized to hire 450 meteorologists, hydrologists, and radar technicians after Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts and early retirements under the Trump administration led to the loss of over 550 employees, dropping NWS staffing below 4,000 and forcing several office closures. These hires include 126 critical front-line positions and are possible due to a public safety exemption to the federal hiring freeze. Some of the new positions may be filled by previously trained staff who were let go. The reductions had raised serious concerns about the agency's disaster preparedness, especially for hurricanes and the deadly Texas floods. Both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and FEMA have faced major staffing and morale issues, intensifying worries about broader federal disaster readiness. While the rehiring effort is welcomed, it will not fully restore previous staffing levels but is seen as an essential step to rebuilding NWS capacity.