Ranking Members Amo, Lofgren Introduce Legislation to Prevent Reckless Firings of Critical Federal Workforce

WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Environment Gabe Amo (RI-01), alongside leaders on the House Committee on Science Space and Technology, introduced legislation that would halt reductions in force (RIF) at federal science agencies under the committee’s jurisdiction. The bill introduced by Ranking Members Amo and Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) would institute a RIF moratorium at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

“The mission of [NOAA is] critical to the health, safety, and prosperity of the American people,” said the lawmakers. “Our devoted public servants make those missions possible. If you take away the workforce, what are you left with? DOGE will stop at nothing to slash and burn core functions of our federal science agencies at the altar of their twisted idea of ‘efficiency.’ This must stop.

“The chaos that has spread since DOGE began to illegally and indiscriminately clear-cut critical federal programs and the hardworking people that power them has been an international embarrassment. From programs addressing emerging infectious diseases, like bird flu, to hurricane forecasting and tsunami warnings — Americans are less safe because of Donald Trump and Elon Musk,” continued the lawmakers. “Our national security and economic prosperity depend on American scientists remaining at the forefront of innovation globally, so that the defining knowledge and technologies of the 21st Century are shaped by American values rather than the values of our rivals.

“There is no reason to believe any forthcoming RIF will be any different than what we’ve already witnessed. That is why we introduced these bills to institute a moratorium on reductions in force at [NOAA],” concluded the lawmakers. “No one is for waste, fraud, or abuse — but that’s not what DOGE and President Trump are addressing. In fact, in their wake, they leave a mess to clean up that could take decades — in other words, very inefficient. President Trump and Elon Musk are lying to the American people when they claim that terminations, cuts, and cancellations will put more money in Americans’ pockets. The chaos must end.”

For text of the legislation click HERE.

BACKGROUND

As the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Environment, Congressman Amo is a strong advocate for the work and personnel of the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration. On March 13, he sent a letter to Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick demanding information on the Trump administration’s apparent plan to terminate at least 34 NOAA office leases nationwide. On February 27, he lambasted the administration’s decision to recklessly fire employees at NOAA. 

In addition, Congressman Amo participated in a rally outside of the Department of Commerce headquarters to call out efforts to dismantle NOAA and the critical work of the National Weather Service and has sought answers from Acting NOAA Administrator Vice Admiral Nancy Hann on DOGE access to crucial data. 

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