SE Kansas News

U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Gary Peters have introduced the Federal Operational Resilience in Emergency Conditions and Storm Tracking (FORECAST) Act. This legislation aims to exempt certain National Weather Service (NWS) employees from federal hiring freezes imposed by executive orders or memoranda.

The exemption covers roles responsible for issuing weather and flood warnings, maintaining critical observational equipment, and protecting life and property. The act also mandates that the Secretary of Commerce submit a report one year after enactment on staffing levels at the NWS for these positions.

Senator Moran emphasized the challenges faced by NWS offices, particularly in rural areas, due to staffing shortages. He stated, “Staffing National Weather Service offices, particularly in rural parts of the country, is a constant challenge, and recent staffing shortages have led to some offices, including in Kansas, being unable to provide 24/7 weather forecasting.” He added that it is crucial for the NWS to fill public safety roles promptly to ensure communities receive timely weather data.

Senator Peters highlighted the need for continuous meteorological monitoring in regions like the Upper Peninsula. “We know that in the Upper Peninsula, weather can change on a dime. That’s why we need a team of full-time meteorologists working around the clock to notify the public when extreme weather impacts the region,” he said.

Recently, Senator Moran secured an exemption from the federal hiring freeze specifically for meteorologists and weather forecasters at NWS. This move was necessary as staffing shortages forced the Goodland NWS office to stop night-time forecasting temporarily. To address this issue while vacancies are filled, other NWS employees will staff Goodland on a rotating basis until June 15.

In a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, Senator Moran questioned Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick about safeguarding critical NWS positions from hiring freezes.