By Alice Yee
On September 25th, 2025, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) released a new interactive map, in response to DOGE’s funding cuts to weather and storm tracking, atmospheric and sea life research, along with climate-related job availability. It displays National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) programs/services, such as labs and major offices by state and congressional districts, in local communities across the US. By providing a visual catalog of these resources, EDF intends to help policymakers and the public understand the agency’s local footprint and impact. This is the first time such information has ever been made available to the public.
EDF Vice President for Political and Government Affairs Joanna Slaney emphasizes, “Americans benefit every day from NOAA’s up-to-date weather reports, storm tracking, fisheries management and numerous other public services… This transparency is more important than ever.” According to edf.org, despite making up less than 1% of the federal budget, NOAA has an enormous return on investment. Like in 2024, where the National Weather Service alone transformed its $1.3 billion budget into over $100 billion in national economic benefits with businesses, academia, and research.
The Chair of Friends of NOAA Pamitha Weerasinghe highlights the reliability of the interactive map’s environmental intelligence in providing accurate and daily weather forecasts, emergency alerts, and American fishery reports that reinforce the economy and protect residents from extreme weather. So, as of January 2025, EDF has created the NOAA Footprint map to illustrate NOAA’s presence across the U.S. “The ‘NOAA in your State’ tool shows that the vital work of NOAA is visible from the front doors and in backyards throughout the country.”