In a move that has raised serious public safety concerns, recent budget cuts under the Trump administration have resulted in the elimination of overnight weather forecasting services provided by the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Pendleton, Oregon. This office serves a large and diverse region that includes several counties across Eastern Washington and Northeastern Oregon. Due to the staffing reductions, the Pendleton office will no longer be staffed during nighttime hours, meaning that critical local weather updates and warnings will not be issued during overnight periods.
The decision to halt overnight services stems from broader federal budget cuts and workforce reductions that are affecting National Weather Service offices across the United States. More than 500 NWS employees have either been terminated or opted for early retirement since the beginning of the year, leaving many regional offices severely understaffed. As a result, the NWS has been forced to reduce or suspend services in various locations, including California, Alaska, and Kentucky, in addition to Washington and Oregon.
The Pendleton office plays a crucial role in forecasting weather and issuing alerts for counties such as Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla, Yakima, Columbia, Kittitas, and Klickitat in Washington, and Umatilla and Morrow in Oregon. The office monitors a wide range of weather phenomena including thunderstorms, hail, flooding, high winds, heat waves, snowstorms, ice storms, and dust storms. Many of these events occur during the night and early morning hours, making round-the-clock coverage essential for public safety. Residents, farmers, emergency personnel, school districts, and transportation services rely heavily on accurate and timely forecasts, particularly during the transition seasons when severe weather is more frequent.
Washington Senator Maria Cantwell has voiced strong opposition to the cuts, stating that reducing National Weather Service staffing puts communities at unnecessary risk. She has urged the administration to approve a public safety exemption for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to resume full staffing. Cantwell also called for the lifting of the federal hiring freeze that has exacerbated personnel shortages across government agencies.
The implications of these cuts extend beyond Eastern Washington and Oregon. Across the country, similar service reductions are taking place in regions known for experiencing dangerous and fast-developing weather conditions. In California, two NWS offices no longer operate 24/7. In Kentucky, the local office struggled to provide warnings during a recent tornado event after overnight staff reductions. These situations have prompted increased concern from meteorologists, emergency managers, and public officials about the nation’s ability to respond effectively to hazardous weather events without continuous monitoring and support.
The National Weather Service has acknowledged the staffing crisis and is attempting to recruit new personnel to fill critical gaps. However, due to the federal budget environment and hiring constraints, progress has been slow. The agency is also exploring alternative measures such as offering relocation assistance and cross-training existing staff to maintain service levels where possible.
Public safety experts warn that the lack of overnight coverage could lead to delayed or missed warnings during critical time periods, increasing the risk of injury or death during severe weather events. With hurricane season approaching and the frequency of extreme weather events on the rise due to climate change, the cuts to NWS services highlight a dangerous vulnerability in the nation’s emergency preparedness infrastructure.
In the coming weeks, lawmakers and advocacy groups are expected to increase pressure on the administration to reverse the cuts and restore funding to the National Weather Service. Until then, large portions of the Pacific Northwest and other affected regions will continue to face nighttime hours without direct local weather support—leaving communities without crucial information when it may be needed most.
