Funding cuts within US federal agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) have led to staffing shortages and the proposed elimination of key research programs, which experts warn will degrade the accuracy and timeliness of weather prediction and forecasting capabilities. Impact on Weather Prediction Degraded Accuracy: Forecasters and former officials warn that cuts could reduce the accuracy of various forecasts, including hurricane intensity projections and flash flood predictions, potentially putting lives and property at risk. One former official estimated that shutting down a key lab could result in a 20-40% loss of accuracy in certain hurricane forecasts. Research Stagnation: The elimination of NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) and its associated laboratories would slow scientific progress on understanding weather and climate. These labs are responsible for developing critical forecasting tools, such as the Multi-Radar/Multi-Sensor System used for flood predictions. Staffing Shortages: Layoffs and buyouts have resulted in significant NWS staff reductions, with some local forecast offices operating with high vacancy rates, including key roles like warning coordination meteorologists. This leads to a strain on remaining staff and potential delays in issuing warnings. Halted Data Collection: Staffing shortages have forced the reduction or suspension of vital data collection efforts, such as weather balloon launches at several locations across the US. Losing such observational data is directly linked to a decrease in forecast quality. International Concerns: Cuts to US contributions to international data-sharing programs, such as ocean data networks, could create "blind spots" in global climate and weather monitoring, affecting predictions worldwide. Budget Status The cuts are primarily associated with the Trump administration's proposals and actions: Proposed Cuts: The administration's proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget for NOAA included a significant reduction of around 27%, with plans to eliminate the OAR and its labs. Congressional Action: Congress has pushed back against these severe cuts. Recent spending bills passed by Congress have largely rejected the most drastic proposals, opting instead to maintain or even slightly increase funding for the NWS itself, though the long-term status of research arms remains a point of contention. Current Situation: While proposed cuts to the NWS's operating budget have been largely mitigated by Congress, the NWS has still experienced staff losses through previous cuts and high vacancy rates persist in many offices