WASHINGTON, D.C. (KATU) — Oregon’s Democratic delegation is urging the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to reverse recent terminations of National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) staff, citing significant threats to both state safety and economic stability.
In a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, Andrea Salinas, Maxine Dexter, and Janelle Bynum, expressed grave concerns over the impact of these layoffs on critical NOAA programs and research.
“These terminations threaten critical programs and research that strengthen and shape domestic and international ocean, fisheries, climate, space and weather policies,” the delegation wrote…