Key takeaways:

• Democratic lawmakers accuse Elon Musk's DOGE of improperly accessing NOAA's IT systems.
• Concerns arise over budget cuts up to 30% and staff reductions through DOGE's reviews.
• Neil Jacobs, associated with past controversies, has been nominated as NOAA administrator.
• Internally, several NOAA websites have faced outages, raising fears about data integrity.
• DOGE's actions are seen as part of a broader effort outlined in Project 2025, aimed at restructuring federal agencies.

Concerns are escalating among Democratic lawmakers regarding the activities of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as it purportedly gains access to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) systems. DOGE, led by billionaire Elon Musk, was established under President Trump's administration as a cost-cutting initiative. According to CBS News, reports indicate that DOGE staff members have infiltrated Washington, D.C., offices, including NOAA's headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, under the pretense of evaluating efficiency.

Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) voiced strong concerns, stating that his office is looking into DOGE's operations within NOAA, which manages crucial tasks like weather forecasting and climate research. “Hearing reports that Musk’s cronies are targeting NOAA — infiltrating key systems & locking out career employees,” he remarked. His sentiments echo those of fellow Democrats Reps. Jared Huffman and Zoe Lofgren, who criticized DOGE for allegedly “ransacking” the federal agency and accessing private data unlawfully, as reported by The Hill.

There are unconfirmed reports suggesting that current NOAA employees have received notices of impending cuts to both personnel and funding, with estimates suggesting reductions of about 50% in staffing and 30% in budget allocations. This has raised alarms about the future functionality of NOAA, which employs a significant number of scientists and engineers essential for environmental monitoring and disaster preparedness. “The critical work saves lives,” Van Hollen emphasized during a public statement.

In the midst of these developments, Trump has nominated Neil Jacobs, a controversial figure involved in the past “Sharpiegate” incident, as the new head of NOAA. Jacobs previously served as acting administrator and is awaiting Senate confirmation. Reports suggest that his nomination has prompted concerns about the fate of NOAA amid allegations of impending restructuring as outlined in Project 2025, which envisions a notable contraction of government agencies, including NOAA.

Sources from within NOAA have indicated that several of the agency's online resources have gone offline recently, including platforms that track vital climate data. Some officials fear these outages could be linked to the scrutiny from DOGE, with past NOAA staff expressing doubts about the agency’s ability to preserve its critical data under the current regime. “NOAA is a vital piece of our communication strategy,” emphasized Jennifer Brady, a senior analyst at Climate Central, noting the reliance on NOAA’s vetted data in climate research efforts.

The tension surrounding DOGE and its connection to NOAA epitomizes larger conflicts between efficiency initiatives and the need for scientific integrity and public safety in environmental forecasting and research.