The US Congress is moving to block President Donald Trump’s proposed cuts to federal climate and weather research, sending a clear signal that funding for core scientific agencies will be protected despite pressure from the White House.

The administration’s latest budget request sought deep reductions across science agencies, targeting research programmes at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA that underpin weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and Earth observation. Lawmakers from both parties, however, are now advancing spending legislation that would reject the most severe elements of those proposals.

Budget Cuts Proposed by the White House

President Donald Trump proposed eliminating all of NOAA’s research laboratories, including facilities such as the National Severe Storms Laboratory that support improvements in weather forecasting accuracy. The budget request also called for the cancellation of several weather and climate satellite missions at NOAA and NASA, including instruments already in orbit.

At NASA, the administration proposed nearly a 50 percent reduction in the agency’s science mission budget, targeting Earth-observing satellites such as Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 and attempting to dismantle the Goddard Institute for Space Studies, the agency’s leading climate modelling and monitoring centre.

Scientists and climate advocates warned that these measures would have severely undermined US capabilities in meteorology, climate science, and disaster preparedness.

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Congressional Response and Funding Outcome

In response, the US House of Representatives has passed a Commerce, Justice and State funding bill that preserves science funding at both agencies. The Senate is expected to follow suit.

Under the congressional plan, NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, which the administration proposed eliminating entirely, would receive approximately $634 million in funding. Overall NOAA funding would remain broadly flat at around $6.17 billion, similar to 2025 levels.

NASA’s science programme would face a modest cut of around 1 percent compared with 2025, but the proposed wholesale cancellation of Earth science missions would be avoided. Congress has also explicitly directed NASA to maintain the Goddard Institute for Space Studies and seek a new physical location for the lab after its New York lease was cancelled.

Weather Services and Staffing Concerns

The legislation includes a small funding increase for the National Weather Service and requires the administration to submit a staffing plan to Congress. This follows concerns about vacancies and workforce reductions at NOAA, which lawmakers fear could weaken forecasting capacity and emergency response.

Some lawmakers have linked staffing shortages to recent forecasting challenges, including concerns raised after a destructive storm in Alaska in October.

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Political Signal and Broader Context

Senator Maria Cantwell, ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee, said Congress is delivering a clear message: weather forecasters and climate tools are essential components of the nation’s emergency response system and should not be cut.

The pushback is notable given the administration’s broader stance on climate policy. The White House has consistently sought to reduce climate research funding, roll back environmental regulations, and last week announced the United States’ withdrawal from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Former NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad welcomed Congress’ intervention but warned that maintaining existing funding levels may not be enough. He argued that expanding climate and weather services will require investment beyond simply avoiding cuts.

Uncertainty Over Implementation

Despite congressional action, questions remain over how the White House Office of Management and Budget will implement the final appropriations. Previous administrations have delayed or withheld funds approved by Congress, and some agencies were reportedly instructed to begin implementing the president’s proposed budget before lawmakers completed the appropriations process.

New language in both House and Senate bills is intended to limit such manoeuvring, reinforcing Congress’ authority over federal spending.

For now, the outcome signals bipartisan support for preserving the scientific infrastructure behind US weather forecasting and climate research, even as political battles over climate policy continue.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/

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