Fact Check: Did Elon Musk and Donald Trump do away with national weather service?

What We Know

The claim that Elon Musk and Donald Trump have eliminated the National Weather Service (NWS) is misleading. The NWS, which is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has faced budget cuts and staffing reductions during Trump's presidency, but it has not been dismantled. The NWS was established in 1970 and has a long history of providing essential weather forecasts and warnings to the public free of charge (source-1).

During Trump's administration, there were proposals to privatize certain functions of the NWS, as outlined in the Project 2025 document, which suggested downsizing the agency and commercializing its forecasting operations (source-2). However, Trump's nominee for Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, stated that he would maintain the NWS and its functions (source-1).

Elon Musk's involvement with government efficiency initiatives has raised concerns about potential changes to federal agencies, including NOAA, but there is no evidence that he has directly influenced the elimination of the NWS (source-4).

Analysis

The assertion that Musk and Trump have "done away with" the NWS lacks factual support. While the Trump administration did implement budget cuts and proposed privatization efforts that could impact the NWS, the agency itself remains operational. The NWS continues to provide critical weather services, and there has been no official announcement or action taken to eliminate it (source-3).

Critically, the sources discussing the potential privatization of the NWS, such as Project 2025, reflect a broader ideological push among some conservatives for reducing the size of government and increasing private sector involvement in weather forecasting (source-5). However, the actual implementation of these ideas has not resulted in the dismantling of the NWS.

Furthermore, the reliability of the sources indicates a mix of journalistic integrity and potential bias. The New York Times and PBS are reputable news organizations, while other sources like Vox and Politico provide context on the political landscape surrounding these issues. However, the sensational nature of the claim may lead to misunderstandings about the current status of the NWS (source-6).

Conclusion

The claim that Elon Musk and Donald Trump have done away with the National Weather Service is False. While there have been efforts to reduce funding and discuss privatization, the NWS remains operational and continues to provide essential services. The narrative suggesting its elimination misrepresents the current state of the agency and the political discussions surrounding it.

Fact Check: Did Elon Musk and Donald Trump do away with national weather service?