On February 3, President Donald Trump nominated atmospheric scientist Neil Jacobs as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) administrator. However, this nomination is highly controversial due to Jacobs’ involvement in the infamous “Sharpie Gate” incident during Trump’s first term.
In 2019, President Trump falsely claimed that Hurricane Dorian would impact Alabama. When the National Weather Service’s Alabama office corrected the misinformation on social media, the Trump administration pressured NOAA officials to contradict their meteorologists of face termination publicly. As acting head of NOAA then, Dr. Jacobs issued a statement criticizing the Alabama weather office, claiming that the post was “inconsistent with probabilities from the best forecast products available at the time.” However, a subsequent investigation found that Dr. Jacobs had misrepresented the facts, violating NOAA’s code of ethics.
The incident was dubbed “Sharpie Gate” after Trump displayed a map of the hurricane’s projected path that had been altered with a Sharpie to falsely extend the path into Alabama.
Under President Joe Biden, NOAA significantly increased its investments in climate and weather research, but Trump and much of his administration have been openly critical of NOAA’s climate initiatives. Project 2025, a policy blueprint developed by conservative think tanks aligned with Trump, labeled NOAA as “one of the main drivers of the climate change alarm industry” and went as far to suggest dismantling the agency. Trump’s administration has already taken steps to defund environmental and climate research, raising concerns about the future of research under his leadership.
Neil Jacobs’s return to NOAA has sparked fear among environmental activists, scientists, and policymakers who see NOAA as a crucial agency for climate monitoring, disaster preparedness, and oceanic research. His reappointment signals a potential shift from scientific integrity to politicized decision-making. Given his past willingness to support Trump’s administration at the expense of NOAA’s credibility, environmental advocates worry that his leadership could undermine critical climate research and weather forecasting. With NOAA’s future resting in Dr. Jacobs’ hands, the fate of federal climate science is once again in question.
With climate change fueling more extreme weather patterns, NOAA’s work is more critical now than ever. If Dr. Jacobs prioritizes political loyalty over scientific integrity, the consequences could be detrimental to the environment and people across the globe.
As the nomination progresses, lawmakers, scientists, and environmentalists are urging federal scrutiny of Jacobs’ record and NOAA’s future role in climate research. As President Trump returns to office, whether NOAA will continue its commitment to objective research or become another battleground in the war over climate policy remains to be seen.
Sources:
Borunda, A. (2025, February 5). Trump picks Neil Jacobs to head NOAA, a scientist with “Sharpiegate” ties. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2025/02/05/nx-s1-5286701/trump-neil-jacobs-noaa-sharpiegate-misconduct
Flavelle, C. (2025, February 4). Trump Rehires Neil Jacobs, Former NOAA Chief Involved in “Sharpiegate.” The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/04/climate/trump-neil-jacobs-noaa-sharpiegate.html
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