NOAA Staff Cuts Threaten Oregon’s Marine Life and Wildfire Forecasting

The firing of National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) staff will have severe repercussions for the continued protection of Oregon marine life and weather forecasting crucial events such as wildfires.

This is the contention of Oregon lawmakers who urge the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, to reinstate NOAA staff. They contend that the job terminations will also significantly threaten economic stability and state safety.

The letter is penned by Oregon U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Janelle Bynum, Maxine Dexter, Val Hoyle, and Andrea Salinas. In the letter, the lawmakers express concerns over the impact of the layoffs on critical programs and research.

The lawmakers stress the importance of NOAA assets such as research programs, satellites, vessels, and a large pool of scientists and experts involved in climate monitoring, daily weather forecasting, and severe storm warnings.

NOAA Work is Crucial to Oregon Marine Life

The letter points out that NOAA work is crucial to Oregon, the home of the Marine Operations Center–Pacific in Newport which supports NOAA’s Pacific fleet. The fleet gathers data crucial for marine life protection, managing fisheries, and nautical cartography.

The delegation warns that the termination of National Weather Service employees could impact Oregon’s ability to maintain radar systems, essential during critical weather events like the recent record-breaking wildfire season.

They also warn that layoffs at NWS offices in Oregon, which play a crucial role in fire weather forecasting and training, could put the 2025 wildfire season at risk.