WASHINGTON — More than a dozen House Democrats are demanding a meeting with Vice Admiral Nancy Hann, acting administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in order to glean insight into what they referred to as President Donald Trump’s and billionaire Elon Musk’s efforts to “unlawfully dismantle” the agency. 

What You Need To Know

  • More than a dozen House Democrats are demanding a meeting with Vice Admiral Nancy Hann, acting administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
  • They hope to glean insight into President Donald Trump’s and billionaire Elon Musk’s efforts to “unlawfully dismantle” the agency
  • The lawmakers note that there have been “credible reports” of those associated with the federal government cost-cutting campaign led by Musk and referred to as DOGE “disregarding security checkpoints, rifling through personal belongings, demanding access to computers” and more at NOAA
  • The letter went on to provide a list of 11 questions regarding recent actions taken by those affiliated with DOGE at the NOAA and the Trump administration’s plans for the agency more broadly
  • The lawmakers requested answers be given during an in-person meeting with the current agency head by Wednesday
  • It comes amid escalating concerns from Democrats about Trump and Musk’s efforts to shrink and reshape the federal government more broadly

In a letter led by two top Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee, Reps. Jared Huffman of California and Val Hoyle of Oregon, the lawmakers note that there have been “credible reports” of those associated with the federal government cost-cutting campaign led by Musk and referred to as DOGE “disregarding security checkpoints, rifling through personal belongings, demanding access to computers” and more at NOAA. 

In a press release, they also cited reports from multiple outlets that the agency – which provides data for weather forecasts, issues severe weather warnings, provides funding for research on climate change and more – was asked to identify grants related to global warming and other topics Trump has taken on in the slate of executive orders he has signed, putting their futures in question. 

“Many of these actions are illegal and will have dire consequences for the communities we represent,” the Democrats wrote. “Americans rely on NOAA to prepare for severe weather and natural disasters, to support sustainable fisheries, and to increase coastal resilience.”

The letter went on to provide a list of 11 questions regarding recent actions taken by those affiliated with DOGE at the NOAA and the Trump administration’s plans for the agency more broadly. The lawmakers requested answers be given during an in-person meeting with the current agency head by Wednesday. 

The House Democrats – who all represent districts that house facilities and or employees of the NOAA – noted that their constituents who work at labs and regional facilities across the country “fear for their jobs and their families’ futures.”

“Our constituents and the American people deserve answers from the Trump administration as to what their plan is and what authorities the administration is using to bully and intimidate NOAA employees with the ultimate goal of dismantling the agency,” they wrote. 

It comes amid escalating concerns from Democrats about Trump and Musk’s efforts to shrink and reshape the federal government more broadly, particularly after changes at the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. 

In the letter, the House Democrats noted that Project 2025 – the policy blueprint for a second Trump term crafted by conservative group Heritage Foundation – called for the agency to be “dismantled and many of its functions eliminated, sent to other agencies, privatized, or placed under the control of states and territories.” On the campaign trail, Trump denied any association with the project but several of its authors or contributors have been given roles in his administration.