On March 11, 2024, President Biden released his budget proposal for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. The proposed budget would decrease overall funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) by 2.4% from FY24 and drastically cut several key programs.
While the budget proposes increases in funding for weather satellites, marine and aviation operations, and programs to support climate resilience, these come at the cost of significant cuts elsewhere. Notably, the proposed budget includes severe cuts to research and educational programs, a 42% decrease in funding for the coral reef program, and the termination of community project funding and NOAA special projects.
The shift in funding priorities strengthens the federal government’s ability to predict and respond to extreme weather events. However, many of the proposed funding levels for research and other programs are the lowest seen in decades – and, in some cases, the lowest ever seen.