Following Davids’ Push, Trump Administration to Hire Weather Service Staff, Fill Public Safety Gaps

Today, Representative Sharice Davids welcomed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) announcement that they will begin hiring up to 450 staff to shore up critical operations at the National Weather Service (NWS) — a move that follows her June demand for urgent action from the Trump Administration amid dangerous staffing cuts and a severe Kansas storm season.

In June, Davids raised alarms about NWS field offices in Kansas being unable to maintain 24/7 coverage due to hiring freezes and staff cuts ordered by the Trump Administration and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). She specifically called out the Goodland Weather Forecast Office, which was forced to scale back just days before a devastating EF-3 tornado touched down.

“This is what happens when Kansans speak up and hold Washington accountable,” said Davids. “After months of pressing the Trump Administration on dangerous staffing shortages at the National Weather Service, we’re finally seeing movement to get this life-saving agency back on track. These new hires are critical to making sure families, farmers, and first responders across Kansas have the timely, accurate weather information they rely on — especially as storms grow more frequent and severe.”

The Trump Administration confirmed this week that NOAA has received permission to begin filling critical roles — including meteorologists, hydrologists, and electronics technicians — despite the hiring freeze currently in effect until at least October 15. These exemptions follow increasing pressure from Davids and others demanding action to restore basic public safety functions.

Davids has consistently advocated for federal support that keeps Kansas families safe and informed, including introducing bipartisan legislation to update weather technology and emergency preparedness. She continues to call out the harmful impacts of the Trump Administration’s reckless federal workforce cuts and push for swift action to rebuild critical public safety infrastructure. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins admitted to Davids that certain federal firings have been an “imperfect process.”