WASHINGTON, D.C. (KATU) — Oregon’s Democratic delegation is urging the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to reverse recent terminations of National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) staff, citing significant threats to both state safety and economic stability.

In a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, Andrea Salinas, Maxine Dexter, and Janelle Bynum, expressed grave concerns over the impact of these layoffs on critical NOAA programs and research.

“These terminations threaten critical programs and research that strengthen and shape domestic and international ocean, fisheries, climate, space and weather policies,” the delegation wrote.

The lawmakers are seeking clarity on NOAA staffing levels and actions being taken to reinstate terminated staff. They emphasized the importance of NOAA’s assets, which include research programs, vessels, satellites, and a vast pool of scientists and experts, in supporting daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings, and climate monitoring.

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NOAA’s work is crucial to Oregon, home to the Marine Operations Center–Pacific in Newport, which supports NOAA’s Pacific fleet. The fleet’s data collection is essential for protecting marine life, managing fisheries, and producing nautical charts.

The delegation warned that the loss of National Weather Service employees could severely impact Oregon’s ability to maintain radar systems during critical weather events, such as the record-breaking 2024 wildfire season. They noted that NWS offices in Oregon provide vital fire weather forecasting training, which may be jeopardized for the 2025 wildfire season due to the terminations.

“Given the importance of NOAA research and support in our home state of Oregon and across the country, we urge the Department of Commerce to take immediate steps to reinstate all affected staff,” the lawmakers concluded, stressing the necessity of NOAA’s work for America’s atmospheric and oceanographic economy.