National Weather Service Protected From Cuts in Senate Bill (1)

The National Weather Service would be protected from layoffs in fiscal 2026 under legislation Senate appropriators considered Thursday, following intense criticism of the Trump administration’s cuts to the agency.

The NWS, housed within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is a “hugely important” component of the Commerce, Justice, and Science agencies spending bill, subcommittee chair Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) said during a full committee markup. “This appropriations bill fully funds the National Weather Service for purposes of employing people who work” there and eliminates the reduction-in-force, he said.

Republicans, including House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.), as well as Democrats have ...