This week, two officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) involved in the infamous “Sharpiegate” investigation were placed on administrative leave.
NOAA’s assistant administrator, Stephen Volz, and Jeff Dillen, assistant hearing advisor, were confirmed to be on leave Thursday morning, as stated by Volz to NBC News.
Volz and Dillen became prominent figures during President Trump’s first term due to the “Sharpiegate” incident, where forecasters faced backlash for contradicting the president over alterations to a hurricane map.
NOAA confirmed on Friday that both individuals were on administrative leave.
“Dillen was placed on leave by a senior career lawyer in the department following recent performance reviews,” said NOAA Communications Director Kim Dester in an email. “Separately, Dr. Volz was put on leave for unrelated reasons.”
When reached by phone, Dillen opted not to comment.
This decision comes at a challenging time for NOAA, as recent staffing cuts and voluntary departures initiated by the Trump administration have affected hundreds of employees. The staffing and performance of the National Weather Service, a part of NOAA, have been under close scrutiny following severe weather events, including the devastating floods in central Texas.
Currently, NOAA lacks a permanent leader, as President Trump’s candidate, Neil Jacobs, awaits Senate confirmation. Furthermore, NOAA’s budget has faced intense examination, with the Trump administration proposing considerable cuts that Congress appears unwilling to enact.
Reports of Volz and Dillen’s administrative leave were first brought to light by CNN. The reasons behind their leave remain unclear.
In an interview, Volz mentioned he received a letter from NOAA administrator Laura Grimm on Thursday morning informing him of his leave.
“The letter provided no details on the cause, only stating I am on administrative leave due to an investigation into public conduct,” Volz quoted, adding that he is unaware of what the investigation entails.
He noted that part of his role includes public speaking and attending events, including a recent press conference for a satellite launch in Japan. With 36 years in public service, Volz stated he has not altered his media engagement strategy since the new administration took over.
“I have consistently made public comments and maintained transparency about the work we do,” he affirmed. “I’m vocal about our operations and how we handle challenging scenarios, likely more so than many others in similar roles at NOAA.”
Both Volz and Dillen were pivotal in the aftermath of the 2019 “Sharpiegate” incident, where Trump mistakenly asserted that Hurricane Dorian could strike Alabama. Local forecasters quickly refuted the claim, leading to Trump showcasing a hurricane map altered with a black Sharpie. Top NOAA officials then publicly criticized local forecasters, allegedly under political pressure.
Following the incident, NOAA enlisted the National Academy of Public Administration to conduct an independent evaluation of claims related to scientific misconduct during that time. The findings indicated that Jacobs violated NOAA’s ethical policies.
Volz authored the final decision regarding NOAA’s assessment aligning with the NAPA results, stating that Dillen also contributed to the document. Volz mentioned they both received notice of their leave on the same day but couldn’t confirm if it coincided with the “Sharpiegate” report.
“Jeff served as legal counsel while I was a senior employee reviewing the NAPA report, identifying negligence involving two staff members within NOAA,” Volz explained. “We both received administrative leave simultaneously, and Neil Jacobs is currently undergoing a hearing while awaiting Senate action.”
NOAA has not directly addressed whether the “Sharpiegate” investigation influenced their decision.
Volz mentioned he found himself locked out of his email and federal facilities.
He expressed uncertainty about his next steps.
“I am passionate about my work at NOAA,” Volz stated. “I’m not prepared to quietly step back from my duties. That is certainly the case.”
Source: www.nbcnews.com
