CBS 17 by Russ Bowen

Terminations of around 800 employees with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration continued Friday. That includes scientists, analysts and meteorologists with the National Weather Service, which is a division NOAA. Probationary employees were terminated Thursday.

The NWS has personnel and weather radar in Wake, New Hanover and Carteret counties. The National Climatic Data Center, another division of NOAA, is located in Asheville. According to NCDC, the facility contains the world’s largest active archive of weather data from around the globe. Scientists use that data to study changes in the earths climate over a period of more than a century. On it’s website NCDC says it’s research helps “enhance the scientific understanding of current or newly evolving climate anomalies and are an integral part of the on-going debate regarding the implementation of effective global and national strategies for protecting the environment.”

It’s unclear how many of those terminated work in North Carolina. CBS 17 asked NOAA to provide that information as well as the types of positions that were terminated. NOAA did not specify the number of jobs impacted but issued a statement saying:

“Per long-standing practice, we are not discussing internal personnel and management matters. NOAA remains dedicated to its mission, providing timely information, research, and resources that serve the American public and ensure our nation’s environmental and economic resilience. We continue to provide weather information, forecasts and warnings pursuant to our public safety mission.”

Representative Deborah Ross (D), of Wake County, told CBS 17 that the lack of transparency has kept her office from learning the exact number of positions that were eliminated in North Carolina. Rep. Ross is a member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.  

Regarding the cuts, Rep. Ross said “that threatens lives, it threatens property, it threatens our aviation industry, it threatens travel and tourism, it threatens agriculture. I’m really afraid for what the aviation community will know while they’re trying to deal with flights. This is a very serious safety issue and it needs to be taken seriously and unfortunately this administration is taking glee out of just disrupting and dismantling the government and that is going to come back to haunt them but more importantly it is going to hurt our people.”

Members of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology have set up a portal for fired federal employees to share their stories. 

Link to full article: https://www.cbs17.com/news/north-carolina-news/as-nc-faces-upcoming-storm-system-national-weather-service-fires-employees/