Key Takeaways
- •Taylor Jordan (Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) announced the National Weather Service is rehiring 400 meteorologists to restore 24/7 operations.
- •Jordan testified that NOAA is modernizing through cloud-based processing, AI-driven prediction models, and the "Radar Next" program to replace the aging national radar network within the next decade.
- •Rep. Madeleine Dean (D, PA-4) questioned Jordan regarding political loyalty tests in hydrologist job applications, while Jordan claimed unfamiliarity with specific OPM hiring guidelines and promised a follow-up.
- •Rep. Grace Meng (D, NY-6) condemned "arbitrary" staffing cuts and contract bottlenecks, while Rep. Andrew Clyde (R, GA-9) defended the administration’s record-high $1.45 billion funding for weather operations.
- •The agency will prioritize commercial data partnerships and rural radar gap-filling as it prepares a multi-billion dollar recapitalization plan for the nation's weather surveillance infrastructure.
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Hearing Analysis
Overview
This oversight hearing examined the operational status, staffing challenges, and technological modernization of the National Weather Service (NWS) following a period of significant workforce volatility. The discussion focused on the agency's efforts to utilize $1.45 billion in fiscal year 2026 funding to restore critical personnel levels, deploy artificial intelligence in forecasting, and transition core information technology systems to the cloud. Legislators also scrutinized the impact of recent administrative interventions on agency morale and the efficiency of its life-saving mission.
Key Testimony & Policy
Taylor Jordan, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), testified that the NWS is currently undergoing a major reorganization to streamline management and improve service delivery. A central pillar of this modernization is the transition of the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) to a cloud-based architecture, a move expected to take 12 to 18 months. This shift is intended to allow meteorologists to provide remote support and embed more effectively with local emergency managers during severe weather events. Jordan also highlighted the launch of new AI-driven global weather prediction models, noting that NOAA is the first organization globally to deploy a hybrid grand ensemble model that requires significantly fewer computational resources than legacy systems.
The hearing addressed the urgent need to recapitalize the nation’s aging weather surveillance infrastructure. Jordan detailed the "Radar Next" program, which aims to replace the current NEXRAD system over the next decade. Because the existing network is reaching the end of its service life, NOAA is conducting an "analysis of alternatives" to determine the optimal mix of government-owned assets and commercial "radar-as-a-service" partnerships to fill persistent coverage gaps, particularly in rural and mountainous regions. Jordan estimated that the cost of this recapitalization would likely reach several billion dollars. Additionally, the agency is expanding its Commercial Data Program, leveraging the National Mesonet Program and aircraft-based observations to supplement government data.
Staffing remained a primary policy concern following the loss of approximately 600 employees in early 2025. Jordan reported that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has authorized the NWS to hire over 400 new meteorologists. As of the hearing, the agency had issued final job offers to 200 individuals and successfully onboarded 190. Jordan emphasized that these hires are essential for maintaining 24/7 operations at local Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) and improving the "last mile" of communication—ensuring that accurate forecasts lead to timely public action.
Notable Exchanges & Partisan Dynamics
The hearing featured sharp partisan disagreements regarding the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) and its impact on the NWS workforce. Rep. Grace Meng (D, NY-6) and Rep. Madeleine Dean (D, PA-4) criticized the 2025 "probationary firings" and early retirements, which they characterized as a "hollowed-out" service that risked public safety. Rep. Dean specifically questioned Jordan about reports that DOGE representatives had bypassed security to access IT systems and that job applications for hydrologists now included questions about President Trump’s executive orders. Jordan stated he was unfamiliar with specific OPM hiring guidelines but agreed to review the matter.
Conversely, Republican members focused on the administration's commitment to funding and local impacts. Rep. Andrew Clyde (R, GA-9) pushed back against claims that the administration was "gutting" the agency, noting that President Trump signed an appropriations bill providing over $100 million more for the NWS than the previous year. Rep. Harold Rogers (R, KY-5) and Rep. Tom Cole (R, OK-4) emphasized the necessity of staffing rural offices, such as the Jackson, Kentucky office, to handle frequent flooding and tornado outbreaks. Rep. Dale Strong (R, AL-5) expressed concern that U.S. global forecast models currently rank fourth behind the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), the United Kingdom, and Canada, urging the agency to regain its global leadership.
Another point of contention was the Department of Commerce’s requirement that all contracts exceeding $100,000 receive personal approval from Secretary Howard Lutnick. Rep. Meng cited reports that this policy nearly caused the AWIPS system to shut down and delayed basic repairs at local offices. Jordan acknowledged the oversight but maintained that there is currently no backlog of contracts and that the agency is working closely with the Department to ensure timely execution.
Organizations Mentioned
* National Weather Service (NWS): The primary subject of the hearing, discussed regarding its 24/7 operations, staffing shortages, and reorganization efforts. * National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): The parent agency of the NWS, mentioned in the context of its broader research mission and satellite data integration. * Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE): Criticized by Democrats for engineering mass layoffs and praised by some Republicans for seeking federal efficiencies. * Department of Commerce (Commerce): Discussed regarding its delayed fiscal year 2026 spend plan and the centralized contract approval process under Secretary Lutnick. * National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): Identified as a key partner that provides technical expertise and authority for building NOAA’s satellite programs. * Southwest Research Institute (SwRI): Noted for its partnership with NOAA’s satellite office (NESDIS) to improve data operations. * European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF): Cited as a global leader in numerical weather prediction that the U.S. is currently trailing. * Office of Personnel Management (OPM): Mentioned regarding the authorization of new hiring surges and the controversial inclusion of political questions in job applications. * Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab (GLERL): Raised by Rep. Morelle regarding concerns over its historically low staffing levels.
What's Next
The Department of Commerce is expected to submit its overdue fiscal year 2026 spend plan to the House Appropriations Committee, which was legally due on March 9. Over the next 12 to 18 months, the NWS will continue the parallel operation and transition of the AWIPS system to the cloud. NOAA will also proceed with its "analysis of alternatives" for the Radar Next program, with plans to brief Congress on the future radar architecture in the coming years. Additionally, the subcommittee will monitor the ongoing hiring of the remaining 200+ authorized meteorologist positions to reach full staffing levels.
Transcript
Welcome, everyone, to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science, our first hearing of 2026. I'd like to thank our subcommittee members and Assistant Secretary Jordan for being here today and responding. I would also like to thank full committee Chairman Tom Cole for joining us at this hearing this morning. The completion of a fiscal year 2026 to fund the National Weather Service and fiscal year 2026 bills funding the majority of the government would not have been possible without the steady leadership of Chairman Cole. I'm grateful for his participation this morning in this hearing. In January, Congress provided targeted investments to expand the workforce and capabilities of the National Weather Service. The service has a vital public policy mission, providing timely and accurate weather forecasts and warnings to local communities that protect life and property. Unfortunately, I know this all too well, as my district in eastern Kentucky has been ravaged by storms over the last number of years, from historic floods in 2022 that took the lives of 45 people to an EF4 tornado last summer that killed 19 people. To make matters worse, I had to ask if the local weather office was fully staffed and whether proper warnings were being issued and reaching my constituents. Mr. Jordan, that's unacceptable. In fiscal year 26, Congress provided the National Weather Service with over $1.45 billion to fulfill its mission, ensuring local weather forecast offices are staffed for operations and leveraging technology in the private sector to cover data gaps and improve weather forecasts. The current administration seems to be making progress, working to streamline back-end functions to improve performance and increase the number of staff in local weather forecast offices across the country. This is important, and we'll continue to monitor this very carefully. The enacted fiscal year 26 bill also provided an additional $10 million to support full staffing at all weather forecast offices. I'm already seeing the benefits of this in my rural region. The service recently hired two more meteorologists at the Jackson, Kentucky, office, which serves my district. During today's hearing, I look forward to learning more about how you're using these resources to focus on staffing local offices. I also urge the Department of Commerce to send the committee their spend plans for fiscal year 2026 so we can better understand how National Weather Service and Commerce are using the resources that Congress provided. In times of impending weather disasters, the value of clear and accurate information coming from the service cannot be understated and could be the difference between life and death for many Americans. Today's discussion is critically important, and I look forward to a full discussion on how the National Weather Service can better inform our citizens. With that statement, Mr. Jordan, I would like to recognize the ranking member of our subcommittee, Ms. Meng.
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