Senator Markey Condemns President Trump’s “Loyalty Test” that Puts Politics over Qualifications for Mission-Critical National Weather Service Job Candidates

Letter Text (PDF)

Boston (September 26, 2025) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today wrote to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick to condemn the inclusion of a "loyalty test" to screen candidates for National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist positions. Since the beginning of the Trump administration, more than 600 NWS workers have been fired or forced into early retirement, but after recent deadly weather disasters, the Administration is working to hire back "mission critical" positions at understaffed offices. Instead of focusing on meteorologist qualifications, however, applicants to the posting issued by the Department of Commerce are required to complete a "Merit Hiring Plan" questionnaire, which prompts them to describe which of President Trump's executive orders they find the most "significant." Applicants are also asked to write about their commitment to the Constitution and founding principles of the United States. According to the job posting, this position is a permanent, competitive civil servant role, not a political appointment.

In the letter, Senator Markey writes, "These are bizarre questions to be asking applicants for positions as meteorologists. From vaccine skepticism to climate change denial, the Trump administration is treating science as just another partisan hoax. Now, the NWS is seeking to staff critical weather forecasting positions with applicants handpicked for their devotion to President Trump instead of their knowledge of atmospherics. We need a next generation of meteorologists who understand weather models, not sycophants substituting spin for science."

Senator Markey requests the following information by October 7, 2025:

1. How is a meteorologist candidate's view of specific executive orders or the Constitution relevant to their ability to conduct reliable forecasting, assist in disaster preparedness and response, and protect public safety?
2. Has the introduction of political loyalty questions affected the size or quality of the applicant pool for NWS meteorologist positions? If so, how?
3. Does an otherwise qualified candidate's refusal to answer the questions disqualify them for the position?
4. Who within the Administration or NWS was responsible for drafting and approving these application questions, and what role did NWS scientific leadership play in the process?
5. Do you believe it is lawful to use a political litmus test or consider an applicant's political ideology when hiring for a civil service position? Why do you believe it is appropriate?
6. Would NWS fire a meteorologist for expressing views critical of this Administration on their own time and with their own resources?
7. What safeguards, if any, has the NWS put in place to ensure that political considerations do not undermine the accuracy, timeliness, or integrity of forecasts, warnings, and advisories?
8. Given that these positions directly affect public safety, how does the NWS plan to reassure state and local emergency management officials, first responders, and the public that meteorologists are being hired and promoted based on science and competence, not political loyalty?

Senator Markey has been an outspoken opponent of the Trump administration's attempts to undermine reliable, evidence-based weather forecasting. On April 15, Senator Markey released his "Extreme Weather & Extreme Cuts" report to highlight President Trump's all-out assault on reliable weather forecasting, climate science, and disaster preparedness. On April 10, Senator Markey reintroduced his Forecasting Optimization for Robust Earth Climate Analysis and S2S Tracking (FORECAST) Act of 2025, legislation that would bring needed improvements in longer-term weather forecasting through investments in emerging technologies and the weather enterprise workforce.

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