Watchdog Warns FAA About Meteorologists

A government watchdog is warning that the Federal Aviation Administration is courting danger by allowing the number of meteorologists who advise air traffic controllers to drop, reports the New York Times. Some key stats cited by the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office:

• Only 69 aviation meteorologists were assisting air traffic controllers nationwide as of June—down from an average of 81 from 2019 to 2024 and well below the 90 agreed upon in a 2016 staffing plan.
• Ideally, each FAA control center would have four meteorologists. In reality, most have fewer, including key hubs such as Boston, DC, and Houston, which each have just two; Oakland's center has only one. Five centers are missing a supervising meteorologist entirely.

The shortfall has consequences. Remaining staff report fatigue and burnout, often working overtime and skipping leave just to keep operations going. The FAA, says the GAO, hasn't fully analyzed the safety risks posed by these shortages. "We recommended that FAA consult with the National Weather Service to identify related risks and take urgent action to address them," the report reads. Stopgap measures—like borrowing meteorologists from other locations or bringing in those less experienced with aviation forecasting—are not ideal, as they can leave gaps in local expertise.