'We are not immune': Red state Republican rips Trump administration over hiring freeze

Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) expressed strong criticism of the Trump administration’s freeze on government hiring, noting on Wednesday during a Senate hearing that the administration's move has left key meteorologist positions unfilled in his state.

“We are not immune from significant weather events ourselves,” Moran said during the confirmation hearing for Neil Jacobs, President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), per a report by Politico.

He continued: “One of those weather events about a month ago was an EF3 tornado. When that tornado occurred, the weather forecast offices in Kansas and across the country lacked 24/7 coverage given the hiring freezes.”

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Moran's remarks come amid the deadly flash floods in Texas which raised concerns about staffing levels at National Weather Service (NWS) offices. The issue intensified following a reorganization during which up to 600 of the agency’s more than 4,000 employees accepted buy-outs or departed, prompting serious questions about whether remaining staff can adequately manage critical forecasting and emergency response functions.

The report notes that Moran introduced legislation last month aimed at excluding the NWS — and its meteorologists — from the broader hiring freeze.

“Goodland, Kansas, which is on the Colorado line, the western part of our state, was short meteorologists because of that hiring freeze and were attempting to bring in other meteorologists from national weather service stations,” Moran explained.

Last month, the Kansas Republican said he managed to get a national exemption for the NWS from a federal hiring freeze so the agency could hire forecasters. He added that the Goodland office stopped night-time forecasting during May due to staffing shortages, according to local media outlets.

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“As we work to install new technology and modernize the National Weather Service, it is important the NWS is able to continuously fill critical public safety roles as they become vacant to make certain communities across the country receive timely, accurate weather data,” Moran said at the time.

During the hearing Wednesday, Jacobs reaffirmed his dedication to addressing staffing shortfalls at NOAA. “If confirmed, I will ensure that staffing the weather service offices is a top priority,” he stated.

Jacobs added: “It is really important for the people to be there, because they have relationships with people in the local community. They’re a trusted source.”