The sad truth is that the United States has now formally chosen to cease tracking the costs of these extreme weather events. These dominoes are made worse by climate change. President Donald Trump is kicking off a much bigger effort. His stated goal is to remove mentions of climate change from all federal government communications and documents. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has a long legacy of tracking and quantifying the economic costs of harsh weather. It is taking climate out of its public reporting, including its financial toll of climate-related disasters.
This is a historic turning point in federal climate action — in how the federal government is beginning to respond to the climate crisis and the risks it poses. That’s because for decades, NOAA has carefully recorded each major weather event. This list includes hurricanes, hail storms, droughts and freezes. Climatic events that have already wreaked havoc in their wake, costing Americans trillions of dollars in damages nationwide. By stopping this mapping, experts say that the American people will be even more vulnerable to the harsh realities of climate change.
The Importance of NOAA’s Tracking Data
This data NOAA compiled was heavily biased to the costliest weather events in the U.S. This data has been incredibly important for tracking increases in extreme weather and for planning ahead to mitigate future disasters. The experts are more often linking the increased severity of recent weather attacks to climate change. Their examples include crippling heat waves, Hurricane Milton, and devastating wildfires in Southern California.
Now the Trump administration is dropping dangerous and necessary tracking of climate disasters. This misguided decision undercounts their economic clout and erodes our capacity to prepare for and respond to what’s coming next. Among other provisions, critics say this decision seriously undermines public safety and will severely harm the economy. Concerns have been voiced that limiting access to such data could jeopardize lives and reduce overall resilience against natural disasters.
Consequences of Policy Changes
Now the Trump administration is finished cutting costs. This decision fits into a broader pattern of using the federal government’s resources to discourage and prevent efforts to mitigate climate change. As the budget cycle continues, NOAA has experienced major administrative cuts and personnel losses in recent months. In March alone, a second wave of job cuts hit more than 10% of its workforce. Insiders have sounded alarms for months that these changes imperil the agency’s ability to function safely and effectively. They pose significant dangers to our national security as climate-related threats increase.
NOAA recently suspended its language translation services for weather-related products, only to have them quickly restored after an outcry. These setbacks cause the public to doubt the agency’s dedication. At times of crisis, communities of color and other marginalized groups rely on immediate, up-to-the-minute notifications of severe storm conditions.
The Administration’s Focus on Industry Alliances
The Trump administration’s response to climate change was to double down on coal, oil, and gas interests. This approach frequently ignored the environmental impacts of these industries. Research shows that these sectors are among the largest drivers of climate harm. Critics contend that the administration is giving priority to fostering ties with these industries over protecting public health. Unfortunately, they are trading the long-term effects of climate change on public health and economic stability.
Yale Climate Connections’ Jeff Masters, among other experts, understand the tremendous value of NOAA’s data. More universally, they suggest turning to non-traditional sources, like insurance brokers and providers and international disaster databases for vital, baseline information going forward. This change will likely not be enough to adequately account for the breadth of economic impacts from climate-driven disasters.
Implications for Future Preparedness
As the U.S. continues to grapple with various extreme weather events—including floods, heat waves, and hurricanes—this decision raises critical questions about future preparedness. Not having this kind of national tracking data can leave us unprepared to respond to major emergencies, putting the public’s safety at risk.