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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNOAA staff warned in Sept. 1 directive against contradicting Trump
Nearly a week before the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration publicly backed President Trump over its own scientists, a top NOAA official warned its staff against contradicting the president.
In an agencywide directive sent Sept. 1 to National Weather Service personnel, hours after Trump asserted, with no evidence, that Alabama would most likely be hit (much) harder than anticipated, staff was told to only stick with official National Hurricane Center forecasts if questions arise from some national level social media posts which hit the news this afternoon.
They were also told not to provide any opinion, according to a copy of the email obtained by The Washington Post.
A NOAA meteorologist who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution said the note, understood internally to be referring to Trump, came after the National Weather Service office in Birmingham contradicted Trump by tweeting Alabama would NOT see any impacts from the hurricane.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/noaa-staff-warned-in-sept-1-directive-against-contradicting-trump/2019/09/07/12a52d1a-d18f-11e9-87fa-8501a456c003_story.html
Ilsa
(61,695 posts)dchill
(38,489 posts)...acting like directors.
SeattleVet
(5,477 posts)I worked at a NOAA facility for 17 years, and the people in that scientific community were some of the most dedicated workers I've ever known.
This has to be a living hell for some of them, but they continue to do their work for the American people, knowing deep down that this (mis)administration will be a long forgotten blip in history while the results of their work lives on.
malaise
(268,987 posts)The Head of an institution that has built its reputation on accuracy defers to an ignorant asshole.
I hope the Dems hold hearings and demand the resignation of this asshole