Weather service rebuilding workforce after budget cut layoffs

The National Weather Service (NWS) has officially lifted its hiring freeze, announcing on its X page that the first round of mission-critical job openings is now live.

Positions are available to current federal employees and former staff who were laid off due to recent budget cuts. Additional hiring waves are expected soon as the agency works to restore staffing levels that were deeply impacted earlier this year due to looming budget cuts by the Trump administration.

The severe budget reductions proposed in the federal FY2026 plan resulted in over 1,000 job losses within the NWS, accounting for roughly 15% of the workforce.

Many forecast offices were left critically understaffed, with essential positions vacant during a near-record-breaking severe weather season to start the year.

As a result, some offices suspended overnight staffing and balloon launches due to a lack of funding and staffing.

Now, with the hiring freeze lifted, NWS is taking early steps to rebuild its operational capacity. If you are interested in applying, head to usajobs.gov to learn more.