DOGE cuts to weather balloon sites leave U.S. without crucial data, some meteorologists say

In March, Northern Michigan faced a severe ice storm, prompting the National Guard’s assistance as up to 1.5 inches of ice caused widespread power outages and property damage. Meteorologists, including CBS Detroit’s Ahmad Bajjey, struggled with insufficient data due to cuts in weather balloon sites by the Department of Government Efficiency, which hindered accurate forecasting during critical weather events. Former National Weather Service leaders expressed concerns in an open letter about potential understaffing and its implications for public safety, emphasizing the irreplaceable value of balloon-collected data in weather predictions.