Recent staff reductions under the Trump administration at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have led to the discontinuation of several key climate programs as of Thursday.

One of the most significant actions is the closure of the "Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters" database, which has served as a critical resource for tracking the rising costs associated with the nation’s most severe weather events. Established in 1980, this database compiled data from various private sources, making it easier for the public and policymakers to access important information.

During its operation, the database recorded 403 weather and climate disasters in the United States, resulting in damages exceeding $2.945 trillion, a figure NOAA describes as conservative. CNN reported that the average number of disasters has surged in the last five years, increasing from nine to 24 annually. The closure of this database raises concerns that communities may struggle to understand and prepare for the escalating costs of climate-related threats. Going forward, NOAA has indicated that it will rely solely on historical data to identify trends.

In an announcement, NOAA stated, "In alignment with evolving priorities, statutory mandates, and staffing changes, NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) will no longer be updating the Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters product. All past reports spanning from 1980 to 2024 will remain archived and authoritative, but no new data will be collected for 2025 or subsequent years."

According to the NCEI’s FAQ, every state has recorded at least one billion-dollar disaster since 1980, with Texas alone experiencing over 100. The closure of the database will likely impact the Central, South, and Southeast regions of the US the most, as these areas typically face a higher frequency of such catastrophic events.

Trump Administration Makes Tracking Weather Disasters More Difficult

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