The Trump administration has recently terminated hundreds of employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), prompting significant concern among congressional leaders regarding public safety. Democratic congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and subcommittee ranking member Gabe Amo criticized the decision, emphasizing that these cuts undermine expertise and chaos within the agency, which plays a critical role in climate research. The layoffs primarily affected probationary employees, many of whom had long tenures and contributed invaluable experience. Lawmakers are urging the administration to reverse this decision before it results in preventable disasters.
Her comments were issued alongside congressman Gabe Amo's, the ranking member of the subcommittee on environment, after news of the firings broke. By firing essential staff who work tirelessly on behalf of the American people, President Trump and Elon Musk are playing politics with our national security and public safety.
The firings specifically affected probationary employees, a categorization that applies to new hires or those moved or promoted into new positions, and which makes up roughly 10% of the agency's workforce.
The majority of probationary employees in my office have been with the agency for 10+ years and just got new positions. If we lose them, we're losing not just the world-class work they do day to day but also decades of expertise and institutional knowledge.
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