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Congress of the Ynited States ‘Washington, DE 20515 Sanuary 28,2019 resident Donald J. Trump ‘The White House Weshington, DC 20300 Dear President Trump: ‘We are wilting to express our concern that the eurtent shuldown is having a significant negative {impact on the National Weather Service (NWS), putting our national security and life and property at risk and potentially damaging many sectors of our economy. Countess businesses, Jocal news stations and millions of Ameticens depend on scientific forccasting fom: NWS in their daily lives, Disropting te work will have immediate and lasting consequences far all of the, and blame fr thu breakdown grill not he Timital to ny one letter or potion party, Of the 4,200 employees at NWS, more dau 3,60H are currently working without pay, 24 hours a day and every day of the weck, fo kecp all 325 million of our fellow Americans informed and safe, Although they continue to provide forecasts and warnings of impending weather, they bave been direelel to cxase other evtical, oslensily “non-essential” services to their communities such as emergency prepacedness with local emergency managers, “storm spaller” classes, medi ‘workshops and community outzeach on social media. Similerly, the National Hurricane Center has cancelled annual preparedness training for ‘emergency managers from Gulf Coast und Eaat Coust communities, leaving thase communi exposed and at risk in the event ofa disaster. These cancelled clasees cannot be made up before this year's huricane senso, Hurricane Centr staf ae uot being permitted to ullze tis offseason ta continue research or Improve huricaneforcesting models and techniques. NOAA's Atlantic Oocanograpbic and Meteorological Laboratory in Miami, where critical hurricane research is conducted, is closed. Of the £0 employees at NWS's Envizoamental Moding Center, sll but one have beza furloughed, thich will result in a delay inthe launch of the nent-generalion yal foecasting system planned for later this veo, the Finite Volume Cubed-Spliere (FV3), which would be the rost significant upsrade to NWS's the global forecast model since 198. NWS stait hove reporct that the elibiit of ther exiting, outdated global forecast model as deteriorated dling the shutdown because there is wo one present maintain Several hundred NWS forecasters rely on the anual American Meteorological Society meeting ‘in January to share researeh findings between NWS, ather NOAA offices, and with private and «academic meteorological communities. Despite this being an important bridge between “research to operations.” the participation of al] NOSA cmployces at this five dey meeting, held earlier ‘his month in Phoenix, was cancelled. Every community that your supporters call home depends on Aaterica’s NWS to keep them safe, hhcalthy and ready. The shutdown at NWS could even lead ca the degradation of life-saving sewvices. NWS was already suffering fiom a critical staffing shortage, despite full nding from Congress, GAO released a study several months into your presidency thet revealed the NWS ‘operational unit vacancy cate had resched a point where NWS employers were "unsble at times to pecforr key tasks" wad at that NWS “staiT experienced stres, Ffigue and reduced morale resulting from their efforts la caver for vacancies.” Lest year was the first year in which the [NWS was able to hire as many employees ss retied, This shutdown as effectively imposed a hiring freeze, from which the ageney will not be able to easily recover after the agency fully reopens. ‘his will further exacerbate staff shortages at forecasting offices across the country, und ‘vill roslt in a Jong term reduction in the timeliness, reliability and quality of NWS forecasts and ‘warnings, ‘We remain deeply concerned that this shutdown is undermining the ability of dadicated public servants to deliver ncoessary lifesaving eerviecs and may permanently compromise the ability of | the agency to do this work, Equally conccming isthe effect this may have on the workforce for any yeers fo come. Without its indispensuble wrkForve, NWS would be unable te full ts ‘riGical mission. We urge you to end Unis shutdown aad allow NWS ta retunt tails important wark. Sincerely, uxiie MO QeSery, Paul Tonko Eddie Bemice Johnon Dotald 8. Beyer Je ‘Member of Congress ‘Member of Congross Member of Congress re a Mexiber of Congress Tery MeNemey C7 Gharlie Get Bill Fost Son Z Member af Congress “Member of Congress Member of Congress Kathy face tte. Clarke Tanic Raskin Member of Consresa tember of Congress Member of Congress