Congressional Democrats said this morning they are investigating reports that personnel from the so-called Department of Government Efficiency have begun examining NOAA’s internal systems and showing up at the agency headquarters.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland’s office said in a statement that they understand somebody affiliated with DOGE was given access to NOAA information technology systems at the Commerce Department in order to evaluate whether the agency complied with President Donald Trump’s order eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Agencies across the federal government have been scraping websites to remove mention of those programs.
Van Hollen’s office also indicated that somebody from DOGE has been on-site at Building 2 at NOAA’s headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. The agency oversees a wide portfolio of work, from regulating fisheries to the National Weather Service.
In a statement, Democratic Reps. Jared Huffman and Zoe Lofgren of California noted multiple reports that people affiliated with DOGE “have reached NOAA where they’re wreaking havoc on the scientific and regulatory systems that protect American families’ safety and jobs.”
