Nominee says he would work to undo the workforce cuts from the last few months, though the process could take time.

Downsizing at the National Weather Service appears to be part of an effort by Republicans to privatize such agencies.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration oversees the National Weather Service, which has endured steep 'DOGE' cuts.

President Trump's pick to head NOAA — which includes the National Weather Service — will tell Congress on Wednesday that he wants to make the U.S. a weather forecasting leader. Why it matters: Neil Jacobs' nomination hearing arrives as Democratic critics question whether NWS staffing reductions hampered performance in the deadly Texas flooding — and whether proposed budget cuts will hinder the very forecasting improvements he's vowing.

President Trump said on Sunday evening that he plans to visit the site of deadly flash floods in Texas on Friday, after freeing up federal funds with a disaster declaration. He declined to address concerns that cuts at the National Weather Service contributed to the loss of life.

The decision by the Department of Defense to stop providing data to NOAA is just the latest challenge for the agency this year.

Weeks before deadly floods swept through Texas, former weather officials warned Trump's NOAA budget cuts could cost lives.

In this particular case, we have seen absolutely nothing to suggest that current staffing or budget issues within NOAA and the NWS played any role at all in this event,” Houston-based