The National Weather Service (NWS) is grappling with severe staffing shortages following Trump administration budget cuts, which led to nearly 600 workers—about one in seven—leaving through firings, resignations, or retirements, according to The Washington Post.
As of Saturday, staff are stretched thin, with some working double shifts, others relying on a "buddy system" where nearby offices monitor severe weather for understaffed regions, and non-essential services like school presentations being cut.
This strain comes as the Atlantic hurricane season peaks, with two storms under watch (one potentially threatening the eastern U.S. by early October) and wildfires escalating in the West.
Exhausted employees have maintained forecasting with minimal disruptions, but concerns grow about sustainability, especially with a potential government shutdown looming next week that could leave staff working without pay.
The NWS Employees Organization's legislative director, Tom Fahy, described the situation as "severely stretched," noting that offices in California’s Central Valley and western Kansas can no longer operate 24/7, and a dozen others run on reduced staff. Retired NWS veteran John Sokich, with 45 years of service, warned that the agency’s ability to cope is like a sprinter running a mile—unsustainable, risking missed forecasts as staff "run out of gas."