We have led NOAA, and we expect Neil Jacobs to champion it
The new head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Neil Jacobs, takes office at a perilous time, amid a government shutdown, proposed historic cuts, and the hollowing out of its scientific core. But as former officials, we believe this atmospheric scientist and agency veteran has a critical responsibility. We were somewhat encouraged by the testimony Jacobs provided during his confirmation hearing, and we eagerly anticipate his plan for his first 100 days, which will outline how he intends to deliver on these promises.
All three of us have served under Democratic presidents. But our hopes for Jacobs’ term have nothing to do with convincing the party. Like all of our predecessors, we share a firm commitment to ensuring the integrity of NOAA’s science and services to the American people.
We hope and see some evidence that Jacobs shares this commitment.
NOAA has built a reputation for world-class research, and for collecting and freely sharing a wide range of essential data and services for the benefit of the public. For every dollar invested in NOAA, the country returns exponentially in productivity, transportation, agriculture, fishing, business development, and savings to local communities in the areas of insurance and public safety.
Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D.N.M.), citing Project 2025, asked Jacobs whether, if a forecast is commercialized, the public should pay for access to forecast data to protect their families and homes from natural disasters.
“No,” Jacobs testified. “It is an essential service that all Americans deserve.”
“That’s my belief,” he told Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.). [weather and climate] Data should be easily accessible to the public.”
We strongly agree. Hopefully, Jacobs will ensure The Promise is never banned due to a paywall or hinged on party affiliation. We should not have to pay any American twice for the fruits of their investments in NOAA research and products. These are essential tools for public safety.
Jacobs also testified that he would not sign statements that were inaccurate due to political pressure. This represents progress since his previous term as acting administrator, when the agency issued a false statement supporting President Trump’s changed forecast of the hurricane’s path during “SharpieGate.” We fully expect similar tests to demonstrate his commitment to NOAA science integrity, and we hope Jacobs will be supported by the scientific community, including us.
At the same time, we seriously wonder how Jacobs can deliver on his promise to boost staffing: “I can assure the committee that I will do everything in my power to ensure that this team of scientists, engineers, forecasters and uniformed officers has the resources and leadership necessary to fulfill their mission of science, service and stewardship.” Moreover, he testified, “I don’t know that you can spend that much on research.”
That would be impossible, given his stated support for the president’s fiscal 2026 budget. He is cutting the agency by about 27 percent, the largest cut in decades. This could mean more layoffs and the destruction of research, in addition to the recent loss of more than 2,000 employees. Every dollar withdrawn from NOAA means weaker storm warnings, slower disaster response, and a diminished ability to protect lives, coasts, and communities. We urge Jacobs to be true to the mission, keep his word, and fight for the resources and people the agency needs to save lives and enable economic opportunity.
We appreciate Jacobs’ stated commitment to addressing illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing and strengthening seafood oversight. He says he will prioritize research in the Great Lakes region. But again, these ambitions cannot be achieved with a budget that removes nearly a third of NOAA’s capacity.
Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) said Jacobs praised Sea Grant’s partnership with the agency. It helps communities apply big data to aid economic development, resilience, and safety. But the budget he supports will kill him.
Jacobs used a cool line in response, saying, “A lot of this work is moving from the research side to the operations side,” citing the National Weather Service and National Oceanic Service. “Their mission essential functions will continue,” he testified.
At this point, we would caution that integrating research into operations – under the guise of simplification – has repeatedly backfired in both government and the private sector, where urgent operational needs inevitably crowd out longer-term research investments.
Regarding climate change, Jacobs tepidly admitted, “Yes, there is an impact” on the part of humans. We applaud this acceptance. We intend to hold him accountable for his training as a scientist.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been a productive federal agency for half a century. Each administration has improved lives, livelihoods and lifestyles. The measure of Jacobs’ leadership will be whether he champions science, mission, and indispensable personnel — or oversees the dismantling of a trusted, life-saving institution.
Jane Lubchenko, Ph.D., is a marine ecologist and environmental scientist, former Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmospheric Administration and ninth Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Katherine Sullivan, Ph.D., is a geologist, oceanographer, and former astronaut, and is the former Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmospheric Administration and the 10th Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Richard Spinrad, Ph.D., is an oceanographer and former Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmospheric Administration and the 11th Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
