Like knowing the weather? Alarming federal cuts by Trump threaten that and more in NC | Opinion

Imagine, for a moment, how easy it is to pick up your phone, and check the weather forecast for the week. Now, imagine a paywall blocking that easy access or demanding surge prices in extreme weather. Envision living on the North Carolina coast and not having access to hurricane tracking information — or being in Western North Carolina and not receiving timely warnings about storms or flooding to know when your family needs to evacuate.

As the Trump administration pursues its agenda to “break up and downsize” the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), halting important agency operations, Americans are at risk of losing access to weather forecasts, emergency storm alerts and public information.

The alarming news that the administration has fired hundreds of experts at NOAA raises troubling questions about the future of the agency, and whether the Trump administration will destroy this integral institution that has safeguarded communities and businesses for over 50 years. This new attempt by the Trump administration’s DOGE to make changes to agencies in the name of “efficiency” could have devastating consequences for the safety, health and economic stability of all Americans.

NOAA’s work touches every aspect of our daily lives, from predicting extreme weather events to ensuring the sustainable management of fisheries that feed millions. Any attempts to interfere with NOAA jeopardizes the public’s access to critical weather forecasting services and emergency storm alerts, undermining our safety and security. In 2024, natural disasters and extreme weather cost Americans more than $182 billion, with nine separate billion-dollar disasters in North Carolina accounting for more than $45 billion of that total. With extreme weather events on the rise, communities need emergency preparedness now more than ever.

Americans rely on NOAA every day — whether it’s farmers preparing for droughts, communities bracing for hurricanes or coastal businesses managing the health of their waters. About 40% Americans live near the coasts, with coastal counties contributing $10 trillion in GDP from the goods and services they provide each year, with North Carolina’s ocean economy contributing $4 billion in GDP. But NOAA’s value extends well beyond our coasts. In North Carolina, the 20 counties that make up our coastal region contributed over $65 billion to the state’s economy in 2023, the most recent year that data is available.

So many industries rely on NOAA services and data for accurate weather forecasts, tide charts, water quality data and storm alerts. Commercial and recreational fisheries depend on the expertise and regulations that NOAA puts in place to keep fish populations healthy so that communities can have safe, reliable seafood, jobs and economic benefits. Dismantling NOAA would have ripple effects throughout the economy, harming everything from restaurants to grocery stores to export markets.

NOAA also provides invaluable protection for the things we love most about the ocean — our coral reefs and marine wildlife like sea turtles. By limiting NOAA’s capacity for scientific research, curbing its independence or forcing it to operate under political pressures, DOGE will undermine the agency’s credibility and its ability to protect ocean life and keep us safe. The current administration must not sacrifice the safety and economic security of our nation in a bid to fulfill the wishes of billionaires with selfish intentions.

We must not allow political agendas to weaken the scientific integrity, the data or the services that NOAA provides. The time to act is now. Senator Thom Tillis and Sen. Ted Budd must stand up to protect NOAA, protect our ocean and protect our future in North Carolina and beyond.