Editor note’s: This story was updated at 8:26 p.m. on Feb. 27 to include statements from Ward 7 Councilmember and Mayor-elect Stephen Tyler Holman
An unspecified number of employees at the National Weather Center as well as OU meteorology students set to transition into roles with the National Weather Service have been terminated as part of a nationwide mass layoff strategy proposed by the Department of Government Efficiency.
An email sent to OU Daily from an anonymous source confirms that Thursday afternoon National Weather Service meteorologists received messages terminating their employment, including personnel affiliated with the National Weather Center on campus. The email from the source included screenshots of a message terminating an employee.
Personnel who have been subject to the mass cuts include, OU meteorology students set to convert to full-time roles at weather forecast offices, employees at the National Severe Storms Laboratory and those involved with radiosonde observations, the weather balloon data that is fed into models.
The anonymous source told OU Daily they believe the minimum staffing level required for tornado events may not be met after these layoffs. The National Weather Service issues tornado warnings and watches.
Tornado season in Oklahoma is from March to May, with peak activity in May. Cleveland County experienced six tornadoes in 2024, all of which were reported by the National Weather Service.
“Layoffs at the National Weather Center right before severe weather season for most of the country do not seem like a good idea," Norman Ward 7 councilmember and Mayor-elect Stephen Tyler Holman said Thursday night on Facebook.
"This is an issue I plan to bring up with our federal representatives when I visit Washington, D.C., in April. The National Weather Center plays a critical role in forecasting and protecting lives, not just in Oklahoma but across the nation. Reducing staffing at such a vital institution could have serious consequences for public safety and disaster preparedness.
"I will advocate for the necessary funding and support to ensure the center can continue its mission without disruption. Our community, home to some of the nation’s leading meteorologists and researchers, must remain at the forefront of severe weather prediction and response. I encourage our federal leaders to recognize the importance of maintaining and strengthening this essential institution.”
The layoffs follow the Trump administration’s mass cuts of employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, one of the world’s top climate science and weather forecasting agencies. According to the New York Times, the cuts are expected to cost more than 800 people their jobs, out of a total of about 13,000 staff members.
NOAA is responsible for providing weather watches and warnings, monitoring and studying earth's climate, as well as operating weather satellites and protecting marine life.
NOAA is part of the mass layoffs occurring in agencies governmentwide. Layoffs have been announced at various agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Education. The layoffs are focused on probationary employees, who have been in their jobs for a short period.
Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
