NOAA faces new layoffs amid Trump's federal staff cuts
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), responsible for weather forecasting, is planning another round of mass layoffs, affecting 1,029 employees. This aligns with U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to reduce the number of staff in the federal civil service.
Reuters, citing its sources, reported on Sunday that these additional cuts at the government agency, which also conducts climate research and other scientific tasks, follow the previous dismissal of 1,300 employees.
Two rounds of layoffs and the so-called buyout program, which offers less essential employees a financial incentive, usually up to $25,000, in exchange for voluntarily leaving their positions, will have reduced NOAA's staff by about 20 percent since the beginning of the year.
The buyout program helps government agencies avoid more extensive mandatory layoffs, which can be costly and burdensome.
All U.S. government agencies were instructed to develop layoff plans by March 13 as part of Trump's campaign to thoroughly restructure the government. Experts warn that layoffs at NOAA will reduce key climate research efforts and could endanger the lives of Americans.
Americans oppose forced layoffs
Layoff plans in other agencies, such as the politically sensitive Department of Veterans Affairs, have also caused alarm. It plans to reduce its workforce by over 80,000 employees.
Federal employees are also facing severe spending restrictions, including a ban on purchasing basic office supplies.
Public dissatisfaction with Trump's administration's plans is evident in a Reuters and Ipsos poll from last week. Fifty-seven percent of respondents stated they oppose the idea of laying off tens of thousands of federal employees.
