Want to work for National Weather Service? Be ready to explain how you agree with Trump

While the National Weather Service rushes to hire up to 450 people to restore deep cuts by the Government Ministry of Efficiency, potential candidates are invited to explain how they would advance the agenda of President Donald Trump if he was hired.

A publication of the Parental Agency for Meteorological Service looking for meteorologists asks the candidates to identify one or two of Trump’s executive orders “who are important to you and to explain how you would help them if they are hired”.

It is among the screening issues added to the government’s job applications as part of a “Merit job plan” that Trump announced at the start of his second mandate, and he is not unique in meteorological service positions. But some experts said they were alarmed by the perspective that the ideology of a candidate may have an importance for science jobs.

“The fundamental question is as follows: will this make forecasts better?

“These people should be hired for their knowledge of meteorology or hydrology or information technology or physics-not civic. … In the end, I prefer to have a great forecastist who has never read an EO only in a political mud that has followed a meteorology course,” he said, referring to decrees.

Noaa spokesperson did not respond to emails asking for comments.

Before Elon Musk left Doge, he reduced hundreds of Noaa forecasters and other employees shortly after Trump’s start. Experts have warned that vacancies could harm forecasts and dangerous consequences for people if extreme weather warnings were slowed down.

The NOAA confirmed in early August that it had received approval to hire up to 450 people for critical positions in the meteorological service after the deep cuts of this spring.

Trump has published many decrees, and candidates could probably choose any to approve – or none at all, because the request indicates that the responses are not necessary, only encouraged.

But Trump systematically attacked clean energy and climate sciences while promoting fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal, which emit warming gases. One of his first decrees, which he nicknamed “released American energy”, ordered agencies to sweep away any “indulgent burden” in the development of fossil fuels. This order also canceled a series of Biden orders which addressed climate change.

Under Trump, the NOAA ceased to follow the cost of weather disasters has worsened by climate change. Its administration has also decided to close two NASA missions which monitor a powerful greenhouse gas and plant health – the data considered to be useful for measuring the impacts of climate change.

Trump’s second term was marked by accusations that he politicized science, more recently with the ouster of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention not to be “aligned” with the president’s agenda. In addition, employees of the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institutes of Health and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have published dissent with the actions of the agency. Some EPA and FEMA employees who signed these letters were put on leave.

Another question of screening asks the candidates how their “commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States” inspired them to seek the position. A third request how they would use their skills to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the government.

Craig McLean, an interim chief scientist of the Noaa under Biden and during Trump’s first term, said that none of the questions were relevant to meteorological service positions. NOAA and NWS are responsible for daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings and climate monitoring, among other tasks.

“Asking a meteorologist to define how he as a new employee will make the government more effective is ridiculous,” said McLean. “I prefer to understand how ready they are to use forecasting tools and make a timely and precise forecast.”

Jeff Masters, a meteorologist of Yale Climate Connections and co-founder of Weather Underground, said that the questions equivalent to a loyalty test that will discourage many qualified candidates from applying.

“Whether or not you will support the president’s decrees will not allow a meteorologist to make a better forecast or publish a more opportune tornado warning, and should not have a place on a job request for the National Weather Service,” said Masters by email.

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