From the Cliff Mass Weather Blog
The Seattle Times ClimateLab stories are often sloppy and incorrect, with the article in today’s paper a good example of poor journalism, with politicized, error-filled claims.
The headline on a front page story today asks whether “this story is a goodbye to the National Weather Service…”?
Then it describes a last visit to the National Weather Service before Trump and MAGA
Haven’t got the point yet? Then read into the story.
So the claim is that the Trump folks are closely following the Project 2025 document, which calls for ending NOAA and sending NWS forecast functions to the private sector.
Want it even clearer? The Seattle Times article then quotes an article in the Atlantic discussing “the MAGA plan to end free weather reports”
The Big Problem with the Seattle Times Story
The essential problem with the story is that NONE OF IT IS TRUE.
False, unsupported claims, that are overtly pushing a partisan viewpoint.
Stronger words would be appropriate, but I will leave those to others.
Consider some facts.
Fact 1: No National Weather Service office has been terminated.
Fact 2: No change in National Weather Service (NWS) products has been made or proposed.
Fact 3: President Trump explicitly denied that he follows Project 2020 plans and has explicitly rejected it.
Let me say this again….President Trump has explicitly stated he does not support Project 2025. He said it presents thoughts of the far right. NOT HIS.
Fact 4: The new head of the Department of Commerce (Howard Lutnick), the department to which NOAA and the NWS belong, has explicitly stated that he will not eliminate NOAA or the NWS.
Don’t believe me? Check out this AXIOS article.
Lutnick stated he would maintain the NWS in his testimony in the U.S. Senate.
Fact 5: I have talked to folks in the new administration. They have made it clear that there is no agenda to get rid of NOAA or the NWS.
Disappointing “Journalism”
The author of this story, Erik Lacitis, called me up when he was writing the article. I told him the facts. I have a deep knowledge of the situation in the NOAA and the NWS, having served on several advisory committees and having written several papers on the situation.
Yet, even given the facts, the author produced this clearly incorrect article. Very disappointing.
The Trump Administration Has Not Done Well So Far with NOAA/NWS
Finally, let me be clear.
The Trump administration has made several serious mistakes, such as firing probationary NOAA/NWS employees and then having to rehire them. The Trump folks don’t seem to have a logical game plan for understanding what needs to be fixed in NOAA and then doing something about it.
NOAA has deep flaws that need to be addressed. This administration needs to reach out to those who understand the issues and have ideas about how to fix them.
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