Connecticut leaders urged to protect NOAA's funding

Connecticut is facing serious challenges due to extreme weather. The state is experiencing rising sea levels and more intense storms and flooding. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides crucial weather forecasts that help communities prepare and respond to these threats. However, NOAA is now at risk. The Trump administration is cutting NOAA's staff, which could undermine its ability to deliver essential services. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had assured Congress that NOAA would remain intact. Still, many believe the agency is being dismantled. Created over 55 years ago with bipartisan support, NOAA's forecasts are vital for emergency responders, farmers, and coastal communities in Connecticut. A group of over 2,500 scientists is opposing these cuts. The Union of Concerned Scientists has sent an open letter to Congress, signed by thousands. They are urging full funding and staffing for NOAA to protect its important scientific work. Limiting or privatizing NOAA’s data could endanger public safety and economic stability. Weakening NOAA would not only degrade decades of important research but also harm the U.S.’s standing in global climate science. Local leaders, including Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, and Representatives John Larson, Joe Courtney, Rosa DeLauro, Jim Himes, and Jahana Hayes, are called to action. They must secure NOAA’s funding to ensure that Connecticut communities continue to receive the support they need.