Hundreds of workers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) received termination letters on Thursday, marking the end of their employment – yet again. These probationary employees, many of whom played critical roles at the nation’s top climate research agency, have been left uncertain since their initial dismissal in late February. They were subsequently rehired and placed on administrative leave in mid-March due to a federal court order.
Dr. Andy Hazelton, a scientist specializing in hurricane modeling at NOAA, expressed his frustration on X, stating, “Well after about 3 weeks of reinstatement, I, along with other probationary employees at NOAA, officially got ‘re-fired’ today. What a wild and silly process this has been.” The terminated workers were among the approximately 16,000 individuals who lost their jobs across the federal workforce due to a widespread action by the Trump administration targeting those in “probationary” status. While some were new to their careers, others had recently received promotions or been transitioned to full-time positions after years of contract or temporary work.
A remaining NOAA employee who requested anonymity stated, “The majority of probationary employees in my office have been with the agency for over 10 years and have just acquired new positions.” Losing these individuals means not only the loss of their daily work but also the decades of expertise and institutional knowledge they possess. This turn of events follows the US Supreme Court’s recent decision to oppose the March court ruling that mandated the rehiring of fired probationary workers, citing that the nonprofit groups who sued on behalf of the workers lacked legal standing.
The letters sent to NOAA staff were signed by John Guenther, acting general counsel of the US Department of Commerce. They briefly acknowledged the initial reinstatement of the employees and stated that the temporary restraining order that protected their jobs was no longer in effect. As a result, the department is reinstating their terminations to their original effective date, and the fired employees will not receive any pay beyond their termination date. The status of their owed pay remains unclear, as Dr. Hazelton’s paychecks for the last two weeks have yet to be issued, and his access to healthcare was terminated immediately and never reinstated.
These firings are already impacting the agency’s ability to provide essential climate and weather intelligence. NOAA is preparing for further cuts as leaders work towards complying with Trump’s “reduction in force” order, which could result in the elimination of 1,029 more positions. Dr. Hazelton highlighted that this disruption, along with significant budget cuts and political restrictions, will hinder the quality of their work and endanger the public’s well-being. The effects will be felt not only within the United States but globally, as scientists and forecasters worldwide rely on NOAA’s satellites, studies, and intelligence. This includes data-sharing that tracks severe weather events across Europe, coordination for disaster response in the Caribbean, and monitoring deforestation and the impacts of the climate crisis in the Amazon rainforest.
Just days before the official terminations, the White House also withdrew funding for the national climate assessment, which provides insights into the effects of rising global temperatures on the United States. The consequences of these actions will undoubtedly be far-reaching, exacerbating the risks associated with extreme weather events and harmful billion-dollar disasters. Meanwhile, experts argue that these cuts will not significantly limit the federal government’s budget but will only contribute to the escalating threats faced by the American public and the world at large. Among those affected by the cuts are approximately 800 positions, including individuals who track El Niño-La Niña weather patterns, those who model severe storm risks, and scientists who contribute to the global understanding of the effects of a warming world.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/10/noaa-firings-trump
