Trump Appointees’ Weather Privatization Push Threatens Public Safety and Transparency

Washington, D.C. — Recent devastating floods in Texas have once again shone a harsh light on the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to downsize and privatize America’s public weather services. Behind closed doors, budget slashes to the National Weather Service (NWS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)—agencies vital for lifesaving forecasts—are paving the way for private companies connected to Trump’s own appointees to cash in.The core mission of these federal agencies has long been clear: to provide free, reliable weather and climate information critical for public safety. Now, we face a scenario where this essential service risks becoming a luxury...