Federal Observatory
Starting in August, 2025, CCRM will begin tracking Federal policy and administration changes that may have important implications for the management of catastrophic risks. We report them by agency. However, where they are relevant to more than one agency, we report them under "General."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
August 29, 2025: CDC Director Susan Monarez was fired this week by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Because she is confirmed by the Senate and serves "at the pleasure of the President," she refused to resign until asked to do so by President Trump. The White House Press Office later reported that she had been fired. Kennedy then appointed an advisor, Jim O'Neill, to serve as Acting Director. Find details of the story here: https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/08/29/nx-s1-5522036/cdc-rfk-hhs-monarez-jim-oneill-leadership
Environmental Protection Agency
August 19, 2025: Reuters reports that the Attorney General of California, along with AGs from other states, have asked the EPA to rescind its efforts to reverse the so-called "endangerment" ruling, the ruling that greenhouse gases endanger human health. By reversing this ruling, the EPA undercuts the legal basis for encouraging electric cars and fuel-efficient vehicles. See the article: https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/california-other-state-ags-urge-trump-epa-drop-plan-kill-greenhouse-gas-rules-2025-08-19/
Federal Aviation Administration
August, 7, 2025: The FAA has announced that it plans on hiring 8900 new air traffic controllers by 2028 and 4600 safety inspectors and engineers by 2034. They also report a number of new measures to streamline and increase recruitment. Details are provided here: https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-releases-updated-air-traffic-controller-safety-inspector-hiring-plans
Federal Emergency Management Agency
August 26, 2026: As we near the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, FEMA staff have issued a "Katrina Declaration" and "Petition to Congress." The Declaration argues that the Trump Administration is working against the intent of the Post-Katrinna Emergency Reform Act (PKEMRA) of 2006, which was passed after Hurricane Katrina to avoid future catastrophes. The text of the Katrina Declaration and Petition to Congress can be found here: https://www.standupforscience.net/fema-katrina-declaration
August 7, 2025: FEMA will make $40 million for States and Tribal Governments under theNext Generation Warning System Grant Program to improve public notification systems. Read the press release here: https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20250807/fema-announces-40-million-funding-states-and-tribal-nations-help-notify
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
August 4, 2025: NPR reports on Trump Adminisration termination of two NASA satellites known as Orbiting Carbon Observatories that monitor global carbon dioxide. Here is the report: https://www.npr.org/2025/08/04/nx-s1-5453731/nasa-carbon-dioxide-satellite-mission-threatened
National Oceanic and Atmostpheric Administration
August 28, 2025: NOAA announces an experimental widlfire potential index for the U.S. that updates hourly: https://research.noaa.gov/an-experimental-noaa-tool-that-predicts-hourly-wildfire-hazards-across-the-u-s/
August 12, 2025: A Wikipedia page on "NOAA under the second presidency of Donald Trump" provides a detailed accounting of changes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NOAA_under_the_second_presidency_of_Donald_Trump
August 10, 2025: The State of Washington has brought a lawsuite against NOAA and the Department of Commerce for termination of $9 million in climate resilience fundinmg. More information here: https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/washington-sues-noaa-commerce-over-termination-9m-climate-resilience-funds/HCL57CMZMRCW3LSZKMDNCPOW5M/
August 7, 2005: The National Weather Service has updated its prediction of the number of storms and hurricanes this season and now expects 13-18 storms with winds higher than 39mph and 2-5 major hurricanes with winds 111mph or higher. For more details, see https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/prediction-remains-on-track-for-above-normal-atlantic-hurricane-season
August 7, 2025: A press release from the offce of Congressman Mike Flood notes that NOAA intends to hire 450 meteorologists, hydrologists, and radar technicians (https://flood.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressmen-flood-sorensen-applaud-announcement-hire-450-critical-positions). Earlier, DOGE cuts at the National Weather Service had led to a reduction of over 500 jobs (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/07/weather/nws-hiring-doge-cuts.html)
August 6, 2025: The Trump Administration archived NOAAs "Billion Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters" database in May, 2025. The Claims Journal reports that a nonprofit group, Climate Central, will now continue the data collection. Read the article here here: https://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2025/08/06/332242.htm