NOAA helps us understand and prepare for weather events like hurricanes, monitors our oceans, and tracks climate change. During Western North Carolina’s devastating experience with Hurricane Helene, NOAA’s forecasts were crucial in helping residents and emergency services prepare as best possible for the coming storm, saving lives. If Project 2025 fulfils its goal to cut NOAA’s funding or limits its research, it would significantly weaken our ability to prepare for and respond to future hurricanes and other natural disasters. 

 Even last week, as Category 4 Hurricane Helene was approaching, many Republican senators and congresspersons (including North Carolina Rep. Dan Bishop, now running for Attorney General and Sen. Ted Budd) voted against supplementing essential disaster relief in a FEMA relief bill in the government funding extension. That bill, thankfully, was passed by both houses of Congress. 

 Project 2025 also aims to reshape other federal agencies such as the EPA, the Department of Energy and NASA, by cutting their budgets, reducing their role, and shifting focus away from science. This would dramatically reduce our government’s ability to handle life threatening natural disasters and pollution. Hurricane Helene was destructive and tragic in the loss of life. Imagine if Project 2025 eliminates our capacity to prepare for and mitigate future catastrophes.  

Constance Neely

Scaly Mountain