RUSKIN, Fla. — Concerns are rising in Florida after hundreds of forecasters, scientists and other federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employees were reportedly laid off Thursday, amid sweeping federal cuts spearheaded by Elon Musk’s DOGE effort.
NOAA declined to comment to 10 Tampa Bay specifics on the personnel let go, citing longstanding policy. The Associated Press reports hundreds of probationary employees were among those fired. Probationary employees could include ones with less than 2 years or service, or those who just got promoted.
10 Tampa Bay talked with Meteorologist Andy Hazelton, PhD. via Zoom on Friday. Hazelton was working out of the National Hurricane Center in South Florida when he got a “very shocking” and “impersonal” email.
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“Probationary just means you’re a new federal employee. But I’ve been with NOAA working on these things for eight, nine years now,” he explained.
For the last several months, Hazelton has been working on and testing new hurricane forecast models up-to-speed ahead of hurricane season. Staff at the NHC provide crucial forecasts and data that meteorologists, airlines and others across country rely on.
“Testing new versions of the model, trying to get it ready so that when the season comes, we have the state-of-the-art, new version ready to go,” he added. “We can use these models to make their forecasts, make things more accurate, let people get out of harm’s way.”
The letting go of Hazelton and reportedly hundreds of other staff is causing concern and facing fierce blowback from Democratic politicians in Florida.
“I think this past hurricane season demonstrates how vital that information is to our neighbors. They were the ones warning about a storm surge,” said Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa), who calls the layoffs “reckless and illegal.”
“There is a way to go to congress and work through efficiencies. They’ve failed to do that. They’re going to cost us money, and I’m afraid with this one, they’re going to cost us lives,” Castor added.
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When asked about it on Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he didn’t have details on the NOAA cuts, and while he is a “supporter of the DOGE effort,” he added that he believes the National Hurricane Center will be okay in the end.
“I think that they kind of started broad [with cuts], but I think you’re going to see it be okay with the National Hurricane Center. I really do, because i know it’s an important part of what we do,” DeSantis said referring to state-level hurricane preps and response.
It’s a message Hazelton hopes rings loudly, as he hopes it’s a decision that can be reversed. He’s also seeking potential legal action after his termination.
“The work we do is extremely non-political. It affects everybody,” Hazelton said. “We just want to serve the public, you know, no matter what.”
10 Tampa Bay also reached out to Republican members of Congress from the Tampa Bay area.
Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Bradenton) said while he is a “strong supporter of efforts to cut waste, fraud and abuse across the federal government, we must work to ensure that any cuts do not impact our ability to prepare for and protect against severe storms.”
This is a developing story.