Shifting the focus of the National Weather Service (NWS) to commercial operations and relying on private companies for weather forecasts could lead to inequities in access to critical weather information. Private companies may prioritize profit over public service, potentially limiting access to accurate and timely weather data for low-income and marginalized communities who cannot afford premium services. This could result in increased vulnerability to weather-related disasters for these groups.
Additionally, transitioning the NWS to a performance-based organization could lead to less attention on research and public education (since these are difficult to quantify). There’s also a risk of fixating on short-term goals at the expense of neglecting long-term preparedness and resilience efforts.
