Blue Green and Between 5/26/25: Cuts to NOAA and Other Agencies Endanger Americans, June Observances, and More!
Every week I share feature articles, news, tools, and actions to help everyone protect and enjoy our wonderful planet, from the sea to the sky and everything in between.
In this week's issue:
Something New: Cuts to NOAA and Other Agencies Endanger Americans
Something to Enjoy: Winning Photos of Scientific Fieldwork
Something to Celebrate: Observances in June
Something Quick
Something New: Cuts to NOAA and Other Agencies Endanger Americans
Experts are concurring with what many present and former NOAA employees have been saying for the last few months: cuts in staff, contracts, and programs at NOAA endanger Americans. While the billionaire Secretary of Commerce (who doesn't believe Americans are facing pain over the tariffs) sits on vital contracts, we are facing another "above normal," potentially record-breaking hurricane season.
According to this terrific article by Scientific American, critical NOAA efforts are faltering, including concerning understaffing and terrible morale in National Weather Service offices across the country; fewer launches of weather balloons (providing vital information for forecasts); potential delays for needed repairs to Doppler radar and other equipment; and the firing of the crews of NOAA's Hurricane Hunters, among others.
All five living former directors of the National Weather Service said, in an open letter posted earlier this month, noted their extreme concern about the cuts and stated: "The NWS heroes who remain know that lives and livelihoods literally depend on the accuracy of weather forecasts as well as the prompt dissemination of that information to the people who need it. As former directors of the National Weather Service, we know firsthand what it takes to make accurate forecasts happen and we stand united against the loss of staff and resources at NWS and are deeply concerned about NOAA as a whole. Join us and raise your voice too."
Not only has "DOGE" and other Bad Guys placed Americans in harm's way with their pillaging of NOAA, but they are also re-victimizing those hurt by natural disasters. FEMA has not only faced the same dire cuts, they have also been blocked by the Bad Guys, for example, from helping recent victims of tornadoes or keeping commitments to help the victims of last year's destructive Hurricane Helene. Cuts at the US Forest Service has many worried about the ability to respond to wildfires.
Is this where we have arrived as a nation? Undermining the agency responsible for disaster forecasts and decimating the agency charged with helping after a disaster? Are we ready to count the avoidable deaths of our fellow humans because a hurricane or tornado forecast was needlessly delayed or mistaken? Because a heat wave was underestimated? Because we didn't have the trained people and equipment to respond to a terrible wildlife?
And afterward? Are we prepared to watch our fellow Americans, including those most vulnerable, who have been devastated by a hurricane or tornado or wildlife, who have lost everything, try to just survive without the help of the government? To put their lives back together after they've lost everything, with no help from the government?
I'm not. I don't believe most of us are.
And yet, here we are.
Something to Enjoy: Winning Photos of Scientific Fieldwork
Nature recently shared the winners of its contest for photos of scientific fieldwork.
For a fun blast of nostalgia, check out collections of early NOAA employees at work in geodesy, nautical charting, meteorology, fisheries research, and oceanography.
Something to Celebrate: Observances in June
June is Pride Month, Caribbean American Heritage Month, Great Outdoors Month, and National Safety Month.
June 1 to June 8 is National Fishing and Boating Week
June 2 to June 8 is National Garden Week
June 16 to June 22 is National Pollinators Week
Sunday, June 8 is World Ocean Day
Wednesday, June 11 is World Environment Day and International Day of Play
Sunday, June 15 is Father's Day
Monday, June 16 is World Sea Turtle Day
Tuesday, June 17 is Juneteenth
Thursday, June 19 is World Albatross Day
Saturday, June 21 is the first day of Summer
Sea lions on a buoy in Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Image: Claire Fackler/NOAA
Something Quick:
Rebel NSF Staff Take Photo (Go Team!)
Tesserae (My Newsletter with In-depth Essays on Nature and Conservation, Recreation and Play, Art and Culture, History, Creativity, and Spirituality)
Fun Finds (Quirky Things I Stumble on in My Research)
Notes for Nature (Ideas and Resources for Science, Nature, and Conservation Writers)
Blue Green and Between (Articles, News, Tools, and Actions to Protect and Enjoy our Wonderful Planet)
My Design Shop, Oddly Enchanted (Whimsical, Vintage Illustration-Inspired Wares for You and Your Home)
My Website
That's it for this week - see you next week!