U.S. Rep. Mike Flood (R-NE) introduced the Weather Workforce Improvement Act Tuesday, a bipartisan bill aimed at addressing critical staffing shortages at the National Weather Service by granting the agency temporary direct hiring authority for positions relating to public safety.
Flood was joined by Reps. Frank Lucas (R-OK), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and Eric Sorensen (D-IL) in introducing the legislation, which would allow the NWS to more quickly hire meteorologists, hydrologists, computer specialists, and other essential positions.
“The National Weather Service has long provided critical weather data and forecasts… Granting them direct hiring authority will ensure that previous and future workforce shortages can be addressed quickly,” Flood said.
The bill also calls for a report on staffing levels and employee well-being and reaffirms the NWS’s role in national public safety. Lawmakers from hurricane and storm-prone states stressed the urgency of bolstering NWS capacity ahead of severe weather events.
The legislation follows years of reported staffing gaps within the NWS under both the Trump and Biden administrations.