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Boston NWS meteorologist posts about getting slashed in DOGE NOAA cuts
Local meteorologists mourn the loss and warn of potential dangers to come.
Francis Tarasiewicz received “the email” that he will no longer work as a meteorologist at the National Weather Service Boston and Norton office.
“This wouldn’t be half as hard to bear if I hadn’t fought my whole life through foster care and impossible odds to serve this great nation,” his message on X said, Thursday afternoon. “This past month of serving my community has been the honor of my lifetime.”
Tarasiewicz was one of hundreds of weather forecasters and other federal NOAA employees on probationary status who were fired on Thursday.
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Federal workers told the Associated Press that the National Weather Service fired meteorologists in offices nationwide. Meteorologists provide crucial local forecasts.
The cuts at NOAA appear to be happening in two rounds, one of 500 and one of 800, according to Craig McLean, a former NOAA chief scientist who told the AP he got the information from someone with first-hand knowledge. That equates to about 10% of the workforce.
McLean said the first round of cuts involved probationary employees. About 375 probationary employees work for the National Weather Service, which provides daily forecasting and hazard warnings.
The firings are part of billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency’s plan to shrink the federal workforce. President Donald Trump has called the government bloated and sloppy. As a result, thousands of probationary employees across the government have already lost their jobs.
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The cuts come to many workers, even with positive performance reviews.
“The absolute worst part?” asked Tarasiewicz in a post on X. “I just met with management for my one month check-in. Their feedback was that I was off to a great start.”
The cuts are leaving local meteorologists worried.
“I cannot stress enough how important NWS/NOAA is to ALL of our lives,” wrote David Williams, a WCVB meteorologist, in a post on X. “Every market I’ve ever worked in, they’ve been vital to protecting lives/property and ensuring we all give accurate information to as many as we can.”
“They. Are. Essential,” he continued.
Chief Meteorologist at NBC Pete Bouchard posted that the layoffs were “terrible news” and shared a post from Al Roker who pointed out that this will not be good going into severe weather and hurricane season.
“Another day of watching more great scientists getting fired for pretty much nothing except taking a new job or getting promoted,” Eric Fisher, the chief meteorologist at WBZ, posted on X. “The axe falling at NOAA/NWS today.”
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He continued, “An absolute shame that will save us nearly nothing and lose us valuable services.”
AP contributed to reporting this story.
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