The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is investigating whether top officials at the National Weather Service reallocated about $50 million without required congressional approval, according to several sources.

It is unclear whether the reallocation has resulted in a funding shortage at an agency already strapped for cash. But in a call with employees earlier this month, NWS Director Jack Hayes said the agency was faced with a "very difficult challenge" thanks to an ongoing "structural deficit," according to a rough transcript.

"We are working with NOAA headquarters to try and get it resolved," Hayes said in response to an employee's question about a budget "problem" totaling between $50 million and $100 million. "We are not completely there yet."

The weather service -- which is housed under NOAA and the Commerce Department -- has a relatively small budget of $1 billion. If the agency is missing $50 million, that would be about 5 percent of its total budget.

Dan Sobien, president of the National Weather Service Employees Organization, said NWS officials moved money from a special line item to base funding without getting congressional approval. That is not entirely unusual. Many agencies have the authority to move funds around from one account to another based on need. But Congress does put limits on some line-item movement.

Asked whether top officials may be reprimanded for the decision, Sobien said, "There are certainly discussions that that's the case." But he said employees would know for sure in an audit that is reportedly forthcoming from the Commerce inspector general.

NOAA officials were tight-lipped on the details of the budget "problem," but a spokesman said NWS "continues to analyze their costs and the resources available to it."

"Until the review is complete, we won't know what reallocation of resources will be required," NOAA spokesman David Miller said in an email. "NWS will continue to pay its bills and meet its payroll."

NOAA has been hit hard by Congress' efforts to decrease the deficit. In fiscal 2011, lawmakers funded 40 percent of the $910 million budget it sought for the Joint Polar Satellite System. That shortfall delayed the launch date for the program's initial satellite, which officials say ensures a future gap in crucial weather and climate data.

This year, NOAA fared better, getting a boost in funding to its satellite division. NWS also got a funding increase, from $990 million in fiscal 2011 to $998 million this year.

But the agency has still had to make cuts to many programs, and Sobien said NWS has already cut travel, training and office supply purchases to keep within budget. The reallocation of $50 million -- and whatever steps NOAA takes to correct it -- will probably not affect a workforce that is already prevented from doing its job, he said.

"The impact is already huge," Sobien said. "Whether they can find the money and put the money back -- that's great, but the harm is already done."

The union is currently focused on battling plans in the proposed fiscal 2013 budget to cut 98 information technology specialists from weather forecasting offices, a move it says could cripple the offices (Greenwire, Feb. 15).