Tag Archives: senate

Senate Approves NOAA Executives Linked to Sharpy Gate Scandal

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On Tuesday, the Senate confirmed Neil Jacobs as the new director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

This appointment marks a pivotal moment for NOAA, which is focused on selecting a leader with extensive expertise in atmospheric sciences. The agency is tasked with weather forecasting and climate record management, areas of contention during the Trump administration.

Nevertheless, Jacobs’ involvement in the 2019 Sharpy Gate controversy has drawn criticism, suggesting he may have yielded to political pressures.

Sharpy Gate originated from President Trump’s erroneous claim that Hurricane Dorian threatened Alabama. Despite local forecasters from the National Weather Service in Birmingham stating the area was not at risk, Trump intensified his assertions and showcased a hurricane forecast altered with a Black Sharpie.

Following this, NOAA leadership reprimanded local weather officials, and Jacobs, who was serving as NOAA’s assistant secretary for environmental observation at the time, was caught in the controversy.

The National Academy of Administrative Affairs conducted an investigation and concluded that Jacobs breached NOAA’s ethical standards.

At his confirmation hearing in July, Jacobs stated that he would approach a similar situation differently today.

Jacobs received bipartisan support in a committee vote last month, with five Democrats joining Republicans in favor of his nomination.

On Tuesday, he was confirmed as part of a broader package that included a dozen ambassador nominations.

Under President Trump’s second term, NOAA has already seen significant changes, including the announcement of hundreds of job cuts followed by the rehiring of many positions.

Additionally, the Trump administration has proposed substantial budget cuts for the agency and has also moved to suspend its climate change report, a crucial component of NOAA’s duties.

During the confirmation hearing, Jacobs emphasized that staffing should be a priority, recognizing that human factors play a vital role alongside natural changes in climate.

The hearing occurred shortly after severe flooding in Texas, prompting Jacobs to highlight the importance of providing timely warnings during such weather emergencies.

“Modernizing our monitoring and warning distribution systems will be my top priority,” he declared.

Jacobs also advocated for the establishment of a Natural Disaster Review Committee, inspired by the National Transportation Safety Board.

“We need increased data collection and post-storm evaluations,” he said. “Understanding what went right and wrong and whether warnings reached the public is essential.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Senate Democrats Aim to Reinstate NOAA Database Monitoring $1 Billion in Natural Disasters

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Senate Democrats are working to reinstate a database that monitored billions of dollars in climate and weather-related disasters for decades, which was discontinued by the Trump administration this past May.

Since 1980, NOAA has kept a disaster database for events causing damages over $1 billion in the U.S., but the agency halted its initiatives this spring due to budget cuts in climate science research under the Trump administration.

The database and its annual reports shed light on how climate change is influencing extreme weather patterns, including increased travel to flood-prone areas and rising wildfire incidents. Lawmakers have utilized the report in assessing disaster funding while raising awareness about natural disaster costs.

In a statement to NBC News in May, a spokesperson from NOAA indicated that the closure of the database was “consistent with evolving priorities and staffing changes.”

Currently, Senate Democrats, led by Peter Welch, D-Vt., have introduced a bill that mandates NOAA to revive the database and update it at least biannually. Congress holds the power to dictate NOAA’s budget and outline its administrative functions.

Welch stated, “Our legislation is crucial to reversing the reckless actions of the Trump administration, restoring this database, and mitigating the expenses associated with emergency preparedness and natural disasters. This database is essential for understanding the financial implications of constructing homes, businesses, and communities nationwide after significant weather events.”

Neither the White House nor NOAA has provided a response to requests for comments.

More than a dozen senators have co-sponsored the bill, including Sen. Angela of Brooks and Chris Van Hollen, who represents Maryland, where NOAA is based.

This legislation may face uphill battles in becoming law as Republicans, who hold the Senate, are not supporting the bill.

The introduction of this new bill reflects mounting concerns and protests regarding funding at NOAA and other climate-focused organizations. Notably, NOAA’s database has seen leading scientists resign, with some leaving the agency in May due to the planned closure of the database. One of them, Smith, has since joined Climate Central, a nonprofit research organization dedicated to climate change, to continue the work he once conducted at NOAA.

Tom Di Liberto, a spokesperson for Climate Central, indicated that the organization has refrained from commenting on current policies or proposed legislation.

“We look forward to enhancing our in-house $1 billion disaster dataset,” Di Liberto noted in an email.

From 1980 to 2024, NOAA’s database has recorded a staggering total of $40 billion in disaster-related expenses. In the previous year alone, NOAA reported $27 billion in disasters, amounting to around $182.7 billion in costs. This year ranks as the second-lowest for reported multi-billion dollar disasters since 2023.

The analysis provided “direct costs” of disasters, encompassing damage to buildings, infrastructure, and crops. However, it did not factor in other important considerations, such as loss of life, health-related costs from disasters, or economic impacts on “natural capital,” including forests and wetlands, as detailed in a 2025 report from the Congressional Research Service.

NOAA adjusts its data annually to account for inflation.

Previous Reports highlight that developments in hazardous areas vulnerable to floods, wildfires, and other natural disasters have intensified over time, leading to an increase in both the number and cost of weather and climate disasters, ultimately raising the number of at-risk assets.

Moreover, climate scientists assert that extreme weather events are occurring more frequently. Climate change is raising temperatures, heightening the risks of heat waves, intense precipitation, and rapidly intensifying hurricanes.

NOAA has utilized a combination of private and public data to generate estimates, integrating information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Fire Centers, as well as private insurance data.

Like NOAA, these institutions are also experiencing budget cuts.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Former CDC Director Susan Monarez Gives Testimony at Senate Committee Hearing

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WASHINGTON – The Senate Committee responsible for overseeing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will hold a hearing next week featuring testimonies from former CDC director Susan Monares, who was unexpectedly dismissed after the Trump administration pressured her to resign.

Senator Bill Cassidy, who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, will conduct the hearing on September 17th, focusing on CDC oversight. Dr. Debra Howie, who resigned as the chief medical officer after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ousted Monares, is also anticipated to testify, as indicated by a committee spokesperson.

“For the sake of our children’s health, the American public deserves to know what is happening within the CDC,” Cassidy stated on Tuesday night. “Parents need reassurance that their children’s health is a priority, and radical transparency is the only way to achieve that.”

The Advisory Committee on Vaccination Practices is set to convene the next day, September 18th.

Along with the hour-long session, Kennedy’s attempts to reform the vaccine advisory panel will not include Dr. Demetre Daskarakis, who led the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, nor Dr. Daniel Gernigan, who headed another national center.

After Monares was dismissed, Cassidy, a physician who played a crucial role in confirming Kennedy as health secretary, urged that the Vaccine Advisory Committee’s meeting be postponed until thorough oversight can be conducted.

“If the meeting takes place, any recommendations should be deemed illegitimate due to the serious concerns surrounding CDC leadership and the current state of confusion,” he stated in a release last month.

In an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal, Monares claimed she was let go after Kennedy allegedly refused to approve the recommendations of the panel during an August 25 meeting, shortly before her recent Congressional testimony, where she asserted she declined to support him when he appeared before the Senate Finance Committee this month.

“It is vital that panel recommendations undergo rigorous and scientific evaluation before acceptance or rejection, rather than being treated as mere formalities,” Monares remarked.

Kennedy’s hearing featured numerous tense exchanges between Cassidy and the Democratic senators, with the secretary defending his vaccine stance and articulating his policies aimed at addressing vaccine skepticism among panel members.

Monares’ legal representatives also condemned Kennedy’s testimony, labeling his claims as “false and at times absurd” in a statement issued following the hearing.

Brennan Leach and Frank Thorpe V reported from Zaw Richards of New York from Washington.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Trump’s nominee states at Senate hearing that nuclear tests are not recommended.

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Brandon Williams, who was chosen by President Trump to oversee the country’s nuclear weapons, stated on Tuesday that he does not recommend resuming explosive testing of deadly weapons.

This statement was made during his Confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, taking many by surprise. While other advisers suggested that the president resume test explosions for national security reasons, the last test in the U.S. occurred in 1992.

Appointed by Trump in January, Williams, a former naval officer from upstate New York, is set to oversee the National Nuclear Security Agency, a semi-autonomous agency within the energy sector responsible for managing the nation’s nuclear weapons complex.

Despite calls from Trump’s allies for a return to testing, one notable figure, former national security advisor Robert C. O’Brien, urged in a magazine article last summer that a new term for Trump would see the resumption of testing to maintain the U.S.’ advantages over China and Russia in nuclear capabilities.

At his confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Williams faced opposition against the resumption of explosive testing, particularly from Senator Jackie Rosen, a Democrat from Nevada, who highlighted the state’s history of nuclear tests during the Cold War.

Describing Nevada as “ground zero” for such testing, Rosen emphasized the harmful impact on the population and environment and vehemently opposed a return to these practices.

Williams responded to questions about advising Trump on explosive nuclear tests, stating his reliance on scientific information and expertise from the NNSA lab’s data and modeling rather than testing.

Concerns about the potential environmental and health impacts of testing in Nevada were also raised, to which Williams acknowledged the importance of considering such factors in decision-making.

With a background in naval service, Williams has been nominated to head the National Nuclear Security Agency and represents New York’s 22nd Congressional District.

In a letter to Williams, Senator Elizabeth Warren expressed concerns about his qualifications in the nuclear field and lack of relevant experience.

During the hearing, Williams stressed the importance of retaining skilled labor at the NNSA, following previous administration changes and workforce challenges.

Praising the agency’s staff, Williams assured senators that he speaks on their behalf and values their expertise.

The Senate Committee is currently evaluating Williams’ nomination, with expectations for approval and confirmation by the full Senate.

Source: www.nytimes.com

Florida Senate approves bill prohibiting local regulations protecting workers from heat-related hazards

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The Florida Senate has passed a bill that would prevent cities and counties from enforcing mandatory water breaks or other workplace safety measures for extreme heat.

With a 28-11 vote along party lines, the Republican-controlled Senate approved Senate Bill 1492, which would prohibit local governments from setting workplace heat standards higher than federal requirements. This means that cities and counties would no longer have the authority to mandate water breaks or shade breaks for workers during the day.

The legislation was introduced in response to the record-breaking heat in 2023, which resulted in prolonged heat waves and high temperatures in the southern United States. Climate experts attributed the extreme heat to global warming.

Proponents of Senate Bill 1492 argue that uniform regulations are necessary to avoid inconsistent rules across the state.

However, labor organizations argue that workplace heat standards are vital for protecting workers, particularly those in industries like construction and agriculture that require outdoor work.

Similar to a law in Texas, the bill in Florida would prevent local governments from implementing ordinances that mandate outdoor workers to take breaks for water or shade.

According to the National Weather Service, heat-related incidents cause more deaths in the U.S. than any other weather event, with outdoor workers at higher risk. The bill would also prohibit local heat protection measures such as training programs and record-keeping related to heat exposure.

While companies must adhere to OSHA’s general workplace safety regulations, there are currently no specific federal guidelines addressing extreme heat hazards.

The bill is pending final approval in the House of Representatives before reaching Governor Ron DeSantis. If signed, it will take effect on July 1st.

Source: www.nbcnews.com