NOAA lays off 1,000 employees as President Trump escalates federal cuts

WASHINGTON ― The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is laying off 1,029 workers as part of President Donald Trump’s mass overhaul of the federal government, according to a NOAA email obtained by USA TODAY.

“It does not include reductions in NWS forecast operations and maintenance support at this time,” the email sent Tuesday to NOAA staff reads. “However, the final determination will be made by the Department of Commerce.”

NOAA ‒ which oversees the National Weather Service, monitors oceanic and atmospheric conditions, and conducts deep-sea exploration, among other responsibilities ‒ has a workforce of about 12,000 employees worldwide. The notice to NOAA workers did not specify which positions have been eliminated.

The terminations, which affect career workers across the agency, come after more than 880 recently hired or promoted probationary workers were fired last month.. Hundreds of other NOAA employees accepted voluntary buyouts. Federal departments across the government are finalizing “Reduction in Force” plans in their agencies ahead of a Thursday deadline set by the Trump administration.

Together, the mass layoffs and buyouts mark about a 20% reduction to NOAA's workforce.

In the same notice, NOAA said some of the previously terminated probationary workers had been let go inadvertently ‒ a trend across several departments during the Trump administration's sweeping layoffs. These individuals included interns working for the National Weather Service "Pathways" program. Their terminations have been rescinded, NOAA said.

"A few probationary employees in NOAA, including  NWS Pathways, terminated on February 27, 2025 have received rescission letters reversing their terminations and reinstated employees to their previously held positions," the notice reads. "This was done after it was determined removals were made in error."

The drastic cuts to the federal government are orchestrated by top White House adviser Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, which has fanned across the federal government to gut the workforce and slash programs.

Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.