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Changes at the NOAA: What That Means for Home Insurance

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By Susan Meyer Info icon
Updated April 23, 2025
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Susan Meyer

Senior Editorial Manager

Susan is a licensed insurance agent and has worked as a writer and editor for over 10 years across a number of industries. She has worked at The Zebr…

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  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
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Beth Swanson

Insurance Analyst

Beth joined The Zebra in 2022 as an Associate Content Strategist. A licensed insurance agent, she specializes in creating clear, accessible content t…

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  • Licensed Insurance Agent — Property and Casualty
  • Associate in Insurance
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  1. What is NOAA?
  2. Effects of cuts
  3. Home insurance
  4. What you can do

Why Federal Cuts to NOAA Matter for Homeowners

The U.S. federal government has been undergoing some significant changes, and specifically large-scale reductions in force, as decided by the newly created Department of Government Efficiency. These reductions may ultimately affect as much as 12% of all federal workers or 2.4 million people.[1]

One of the government departments that has experienced significant cuts is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In February of 2025, hundreds of employees at the NOAA were terminated, including some of the country’s top researchers and meteorologists. Many others were offered early retirement or voluntary separation before more layoffs were expected. Overall, around 11% of the agency's 12,000 employees have been eliminated.[2] 

What do these reductions mean for the work that NOAA is doing? What does the NOAA actually do? And how might this all affect your home insurance?

What Is NOAA and What Does It Do?

With thousands of people working there, what does the NOAA actually do? The NOAA was established in 1970 as an agency under the Department of Commerce, but its true history dates back to the 1800s with several organizations in charge of surveying the coastline, charting weather, and performing other physical science research.[3]

Today’s NOAA focuses on nine key scientific research areas that cover things like:

  • Daily weather forecasts
  • Severe storm warnings
  • Climate monitoring
  • Fisheries management
  • Coastal restoration 
  • Supporting marine commerce

All told, the work of scientists at NOAA provides citizens, businesses, emergency managers, and other decision-makers with the reliable information they need to make informed decisions. The work of the NOAA affects more than one-third of the U.S.’s gross domestic product.[4]

What Are the Effects of These Cuts?

The cuts to NOAA are an estimated $1.7 billion from its budget (down from its current funding level of $6.1 billion). Under current proposals, those cuts would mean the elimination of climate research, with over 75% of NOAA’s research being cut. Programs related to tornado research would be distributed to other parts of the agency.

In some places, the cuts are already affecting operations. Staffing shortages have meant some weather balloons couldn’t be launched, which are a crucial tool for monitoring atmospheric conditions. 

Hurricane seasons have been particularly active in recent years, with the last quiet season happening in 2015.[5] Cuts to NOAA's budget could lead to reduced research flights, limiting the amount of real-time data collected on developing storms. This includes data from weather balloons and aircraft, which are crucial for accurate hurricane forecasts. Ultimately, the National Hurricane Center (a division within NOAA) may have fewer resources to track hurricanes, issue forecasts and provide timely warnings.[6]

What This Means for Home Insurance

Home insurance has already been on the rise in recent years. And in some places, it’s becoming truly hard to get as insurers are leaving certain states due to expensive natural disasters. 

The Hurricane Tracking Center tracks storms for days before they make landfall and issues warnings 48 hours before landfall to give people time to evacuate and fortify their homes before the storm hits. Insurance companies also use hurricane warnings to place moratoriums on new policies in areas likely to be affected by a potential hurricane. 

Without this time to prepare, there may be greater property losses as people have less time to take steps to mitigate losses like boarding up windows and bringing in outside furniture. Greater losses mean insurance prices will likely continue to rise, and insurance companies may be even more likely to leave high-risk areas. 

If there’s one thing insurance companies don’t like, it’s uncertainty. And with fewer resources at the NOAA, potentially leading to less timely data on things like hurricane and tornado tracking, it’s likely there will be more uncertainty to come.

What is a moratorium?

When a moratorium is declared: 

  • Current policyholders will be unable to change any limits or coverages in their policy.
  • New applicants are restricted from purchasing a new policy with this insurer.
  • Existing customers cannot switch insurance carriers. 

By pulling out before a disaster, companies protect their own assets and current policyholders.

What You Can Do

To prepare for hurricane season, or whatever weather conditions most impact your area, it’s important to understand your current policy fully. Reach out to your insurer for more details if you’re unsure what’s in your policy.

There isn’t actually hurricane insurance, but parts of your homeowners policy may cover damage related to hurricanes and tornadoes. Damage from a hurricane is usually caused by what’s known as “covered perils.” You may want to consider adding flood insurance, as it is often the cause of hurricane damage.

Make a home inventory

A detailed home inventory to have an accurate estimate of how much your property is worth.

Improve Your Home

Get your roof checked and consider upgrades to your home that may make it more resilient to damages.

Prepare Your Yard

Keep your trees trimmed and away from your house.

While changes in the NOAA may mean less research and ultimately less advance notice for things like hurricanes and other natural disasters, you can still be as prepared as possible to protect your property when storms do hit. 

Sources

  1. The Federal Work Force Cuts So Far, Agency by Agency. [NYTimes]

  2. As NOAA braces for more cuts, scientists say public safety is at risk. [PBS]

  3. Our History. [NOAA]

  4. About Our Agency. [NOAA]

  5. It's Been 10 Years Since The Last Truly Quiet Hurricane Season. [Weather.com]

  6. DOGE cuts at NOAA will impact hurricane forecasting and data gathering on storms. [NPR]