Congress ponders potential appointment of Neil Jacobs, a scientist embroiled in the 'Sharpiegate' controversy, as NOAA administrator
Neil Jacobs, nominated by President Donald Trump, has vowed to prioritize science, human safety, and technological innovation if confirmed as the administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The confirmation hearing, held on July 9, 2025, was marked by significant scrutiny and controversy, primarily centered on budget cuts, staffing reductions, and Jacobs' support for the administration's policies.
Jacobs, a seasoned meteorologist with a background in both academia and industry, previously served as the chief atmospheric scientist at Panasonic Avionics Corporation before taking on the role of acting director at NOAA from 2019 until the end of Trump's term in January 2021. During his tenure, he was embroiled in the "Sharpiegate" incident, where a map of Hurricane Dorian's storm track appeared to have been altered with a black pen to include southern Alabama, despite the official storm track by the NWS not including the state.
At the hearing, Jacobs emphasized his commitment to restoring and advancing the U.S. as a global leader in weather forecasting through new technology and partnerships, prioritizing public safety, national security, and national pride. He pledged to prioritize full staffing of National Weather Service (NWS) offices to maintain local community relationships and trusted forecasting.
However, Democrats and committee members heavily questioned Jacobs about the administration's significant cuts to NOAA's budget and staff. Over 2,000 positions had been cut, and the President proposed slashing $2.2 billion in discretionary spending for NOAA, raising concerns about the agency's ability to fulfill its core scientific and weather forecasting missions. The proposed elimination of NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, the agency's primary climate research wing, was a particularly contentious issue, drawing criticism from senators like Ed Markey and Maria Cantwell.
Critics questioned whether staffing shortages contributed to perceived shortcomings in weather warnings during events such as deadly Texas flooding. While some meteorologists argued the warnings were timely, coordination issues were noted, potentially linked to understaffing. The White House defended NOAA and the National Weather Service's performance, condemning criticism as politicizing disaster response.
Jacobs openly supported the president's budget and these cuts, which intensified concerns about the agency’s future scientific capacity. Jacobs stated that the executive branch cannot just come in and completely change something that's authorized in law, suggesting a potential challenge to the proposed cuts.
If confirmed, Jacobs would lead NOAA during a tumultuous time, as the agency has lost hundreds of staffers, research funding, and experienced weather data collection disruptions due to cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Jacobs expressed regret about his actions regarding Hurricane Dorian and stated that there are things he would do differently.
Taylor Jordan and Harris Kumar, nominated for assistant secretary of commerce for environmental observation and prediction, and assistant secretary of commerce for legislative and intergovernmental affairs, respectively, also appeared in the confirmation hearing. Jacobs, during his tenure as acting administrator of NOAA, issued a statement supporting President Trump's incorrect claim about Hurricane Dorian's storm track, which was found to be a violation of NOAA's scientific integrity policy.
In a podcast interview in November 2024, Jacobs discussed the future of government agencies like NOAA and the efforts by the GOP to repeal and eliminate various weather and climate initiatives within the agency. Jacobs was recognized as a 2025 Fellow of the American Meteorological Society. If confirmed, Jacobs would lead NOAA during the hurricane season, and he expressed support for the president's budget.
This report was contributed to by Matthew Glasser, Daniel Manzo, and Daniel Peck.
- Neil Jacobs, during a podcast interview, discussed the future of government agencies like NOAA and the efforts by the GOP to repeal and eliminate various weather and climate initiatives within the agency.
- At the confirmation hearing, Jacobs, if confirmed, would lead NOAA during the hurricane season and expressed support for the President's budget.
- The proposed elimination of NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, the agency's primary climate research wing, was a particularly contentious issue, drawing criticism from senators like Ed Markey and Maria Cantwell.
- Critics questioned whether staffing shortages contributed to perceived shortcomings in weather warnings during events such as deadly Texas flooding.
- If confirmed as the administrator of NOAA, Jacobs vowed to prioritize science, human safety, and technological innovation, with a focus on partnering with other entities for weather forecasting advancements.
