Fact check: When do budget cuts to national weather service start

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, budget cuts to the National Weather Service have not yet started as of July 2025. The sources indicate that the Trump administration's proposed fiscal 2026 budget would not take effect until October 1, 2025 ^[1]. However, there appears to be some confusion in the reporting about what constitutes "cuts" to the National Weather Service specifically.

The analyses reveal that while the Trump administration's proposed 2026 budget would cut NOAA by about 28%, it would actually increase the National Weather Service's budget by about 6.7% ^[2]. The broader NOAA cuts would eliminate the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research ^[2] and close all NOAA labs, including the National Severe Storms Laboratory ^[3]. The proposed budget would also eliminate most of the agency's scientific research, including the termination of 10 research labs and 16 cooperative institutes ^[4].

Some sources mention that staffing reductions have already occurred, with some offices experiencing reductions of more than 40% ^[5] and the loss of many experienced leaders ^[3], though these appear to be related to broader NOAA cuts rather than specific National Weather Service budget reductions.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks important context about the distinction between NOAA cuts and National Weather Service funding. The analyses show that while NOAA faces significant cuts, the National Weather Service itself would receive increased funding under the proposed budget ^[2].

The question also omits the crucial detail that all proposed budget changes are subject to congressional approval ^[4], meaning the cuts are not automatic or guaranteed to take effect as proposed.

Additionally, the question doesn't acknowledge that the Department of Government Efficiency has been pressuring NOAA for staffing cuts ^[5], providing context for why these reductions are being pursued beyond simple budget considerations.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question contains an implicit assumption that budget cuts to the National Weather Service are definitely happening, when the analyses show that the National Weather Service would actually receive increased funding under the proposed 2026 budget ^[2].

The question may be conflating broader NOAA cuts with specific National Weather Service cuts, which could mislead readers about what services are actually being reduced. The analyses indicate that while NOAA research capabilities would be severely impacted, the core weather forecasting service would receive more funding.

The framing suggests immediacy ("when do cuts start") when the analyses clearly indicate that any budget changes would not take effect until October 1, 2025 ^[1], and are still subject to congressional approval.