Why Is the Trump Administration Politicizing Weather?
Scientific AmericanMAR 8
NOAA Discontinues Billion-Dollar Disaster Database Amid Agency Downsizing
Above: Signage outside the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S. on Monday, March 3, 2025. Image copyright: Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Spin
Climate-concerned narrative
The elimination of NOAA's Billion-Dollar Weather and Disaster database and broader agency cuts represent a dangerous dismantling of critical public safety infrastructure. These reductions will severely impact the nation's ability to forecast and respond to extreme weather events, potentially costing lives and billions in preventable damages. The cuts appear politically motivated, targeting climate science while ignoring NOAA's proven track record of protecting lives and supporting the economy through accurate weather prediction.
Climate-skeptic narrative
The proposed changes at NOAA reflect necessary fiscal responsibility and a refocusing of the agency on core weather forecasting rather than climate advocacy. The Billion-Dollar Weather and Disaster database has methodological flaws, including inconsistent data collection and reporting, which have skewed damage estimates and fueled climate alarmism. Many of NOAA's functions can be handled more efficiently by the private sector, and cutting these costs will save taxpayers money while still maintaining essential weather services.