Rep. Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma) wrote he is in contact with the Trump administration about the value of the National Weather Center Tuesday afternoon.
In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, Cole wrote, as a resident of Moore, he understands firsthand the importance of the National Weather Center in Norman.
“The center saves lives by alerting the American people when a tornado, hurricane, or any other severe storm is coming their way,” Cole wrote. “Therefore, my staff and I are in contact with the Administration to ensure that they understand how valuable and vital the National Weather Center is – especially with storm season right around the corner.”
Cole wrote he is confident that once all the facts are known, the National Weather Center will remain operational in Oklahoma.
On Thursday, an unspecified number of employees and OU meteorology students with roles at the National Weather Center were laid off as part of a nationwide mass layoff strategy by DOGE. An anonymous source who works for NOAA’s Norman location told OU Daily they estimated roughly 15 to 20 employees were laid off in Norman.
On Monday, the lease for the Radar Operations Center in Norman, one of two weather forecasting centers, was canceled. The Radar Operations Center is a centralized hub for technicians and researchers to work on improving and repairing weather radar.
OU Daily reached out to NOAA Thursday for a statement regarding the layoffs and if the cuts would impact the issuance of severe weather alerts.
A spokesperson for NOAA wrote in an email that, according to long-standing practice, the agency does not discuss internal personnel and management matters.
“NOAA remains dedicated to its mission, providing timely information, research, and resources that serve the American public and ensure our nation’s environmental and economic resilience,” the spokesperson wrote. “We continue to provide weather information, forecasts and warnings pursuant to our public safety mission.”
This story was edited by Peggy Dodd.
