Oregon Climatologists Warn Federal Weather Service Layoffs Will Weaken Wildfire Monitoring

Mass DOGE federal firings at the National Weather Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have been criticized by Oregon climatologists.

They say the layoffs will negatively affect weather tracking in Oregon, which in turn will create gaps during climate events, including wildfires.

Effects Of Weather Service Layoffs In Oregon

Oregon’s National Weather Service offices have around 60-70 staff left of the previous 100-strong workforce after federal firings were applied to the critical service.

Part of the agency’s work is issuing alerts based on their radar and other scientific reports, such as flood warnings, ice storm warnings, tornado warnings, and extreme fire weather warnings. The fire alerts, in particular, will severely impact wildfire-prone Oregon.

Staff shortages could delay alerts or lead to them not being issued, which would play a significant role in managing climate events that commonly impact Oregon, such as wildfires.

Climatologists’ biggest concern is reducing the weather services’ capability to assist with wildfire preparedness over the summer months.

As a science-based agency, the weather service is critical to scientists who say the agency has been understaffed and underfunded for years yet manages to shine during extreme events.