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President Trump has appointed Neil Jacobs, a former Ocean and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) officer involved in the “Sharpiegate” episode during Trump’s first term, to lead Noaa.
Jacobs, a world-meteorological organization scientist, was first confirmed as Deputy Secretary for Environmental Observation and Prediction Commerce in 2018. He served as 2020-21 Acting Noaa Administrator and was nominated as to full -time administrator by 2020, but never received a complete vote from the Senate.
In September 2019, after Trump apparently used a Sharpie to alter the projected path of Hurricane Dorian on a map to represent Alabama on his way, Jacobs participated in the writing of a Declaration Noaa, supporting Trump’s projection. The storm did not end up falling to Alabama.
An internal report from the 2020 Noaa determined that Jacobs and the then communications director of Noaa, Julie Kay Roberts, violated the agency’s scientific integrity policy issuing the statement.
The nomination, first reported by axiosSince then it has been formally Sent to the Senate.
The Nomination of Jacobs occurs during a period of widespread uncertainty about the future of Noaa. The 2025 project, the ambitious model for a conservative remodeling of the Heritage Foundation, calls for many of Noaa’s functions to be privatized or reassigned to other agencies. Trump disavowed the plan on the campaign court, but its actions since returning to the White House have made comparisons with their federal bureaucracy approach and has named one of its main authors, Russell Vought, to lead l ‘Office of Management and Budget. .
During his own confirmation audience, Howard Lutnick, a candidate for Trump for the Secretary of Commerce, said he would not pursue a break of Noaa or a reassignment of his duties if confirmed. The Department of Commerce supervises Noaa.
“I want to do well, and right now trade does well, so I have no interest in separating it,” Lutnick said in response to the question of Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) Wednesday.
