WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Gary Peters has introduced legislation that would prevent some staffing cuts at the National Weather Service.
Co-sponsored by U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, the Federal Operational Resilience in Emergency Conditions and Storm Tracking—or FORECAST—Act exempts critical NWS positions from any executive orders imposing a hiring freeze. That would allow the agency to adequately staff positions that are essential to notifying the public of extreme weather events that could be detrimental to people or property.
Staffing shortages have left Marquette’s forecasting office spread so thin that they may be forced to suspend overnight staffing in the coming weeks.
“We know that in the Upper Peninsula, weather can change on a dime. That’s why we need a team of full-time meteorologists working around the clock to notify the public when extreme weather impacts the region,” said Senator Peters. “This bill would help protect 24/7 weather monitoring in the UP and ensure we keep our communities informed and protected.”
Specifically, the bill exempts the following positions from the Trump hiring freezes:
- Meteorologists – Covers meteorologists, including forecasters at NWS Weather Forecast Offices and River Forecast Centers. This is the core classification for operational weather forecasting staff.
- Hydrologists – Includes hydrologists who support flood forecasting, river modeling, and water resource management — often working closely with meteorologists at RFCs and in field offices.
- Field Technicians – These are the field technicians responsible for maintaining radar systems, NOAA Weather Radios, automated weather stations, and other critical NWS observing infrastructure.
In addition, the bill also negates any job offer rescinded on or after January 20, 2025 and requires the Secretary of Commerce to submit a report after one year of enactment to demonstrate current adequate staffing levels at the NWS for these covered positions.
