The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's decision to stop monitoring the financial impacts of extreme weather events could have dire consequences for analysis and preparation around climate-related disasters.
U.S. Government Halts Tracking of Billion-Dollar Weather Disasters
U.S. Government Halts Tracking of Billion-Dollar Weather Disasters
The cessation of a key tracking program raises concerns for researchers and policymakers alike.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced on May 8, 2025, that it would discontinue the tracking of weather-related disasters that result in damages exceeding $1 billion. This decision sends shockwaves through the scientific community, as it risks leaving both insurance providers and government officials without crucial data to evaluate the economic ramifications of severe weather incidents such as hurricanes, droughts, and wildfires. These disasters are on the rise, in part due to climate change, which complicates their analysis even further.
Critics have been vocal about the implications of this move, interpreting it as part of the Trump administration's broader agenda to minimize climate research. Notably, the administration has recently dismissed key personnel from significant climate reports, proposed cuts to National Parks climate grants, and released a budget that threatens funding for climate science across various federal departments.
Experts are alarmed at the impact this decision may have on federal and state resource allocation. Jesse M. Keenan, a climate change expert at Tulane University, criticized the decision, stating that the government would be "flying blind” without this data, which could hamper infrastructure planning and financial decisions related to disaster response. Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts equated the decision to a disregard for scientific evidence, branding it as “anti-science, anti-safety, and anti-American.”
Critics have been vocal about the implications of this move, interpreting it as part of the Trump administration's broader agenda to minimize climate research. Notably, the administration has recently dismissed key personnel from significant climate reports, proposed cuts to National Parks climate grants, and released a budget that threatens funding for climate science across various federal departments.
Experts are alarmed at the impact this decision may have on federal and state resource allocation. Jesse M. Keenan, a climate change expert at Tulane University, criticized the decision, stating that the government would be "flying blind” without this data, which could hamper infrastructure planning and financial decisions related to disaster response. Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts equated the decision to a disregard for scientific evidence, branding it as “anti-science, anti-safety, and anti-American.”
