FORECAST Act
The FORECAST Act would carve out a specific exemption from any federal hiring freeze for certain National Weather Service (NWS) positions that are essential to public safety. Specifically, it would allow the Secretary of Commerce to exempt NWS roles in meteorology, hydrology, and electronics technician positions from executive orders or memos that pause federal hiring, given their role in issuing weather and flood warnings, maintaining critical observational equipment, and protecting life and property from weather-related hazards. The bill would require implementation within 30 days of enactment, mandate annual staffing reports to Congress on these covered positions, and extend retroactive protection by negating any job offers rescinded on or after January 20, 2025 for covered roles. The act defines which positions qualify and clarifies that the Secretary of Commerce would administer the exemption.
Key Points
- 1Exemption from federal hiring freezes: Covered National Weather Service positions are exempt from any federal hiring freeze because they are necessary for public safety, weather and flood warnings, maintaining critical equipment, and protecting life/property.
- 2Implementation deadline: The exemption must be implemented no later than 30 days after enactment.
- 3Annual staffing reports: Starting one year after enactment and annually thereafter, the Secretary must report to Congress on staffing levels for covered NWS positions.
- 4Retroactive protection for offers: The exemption negates any job offer rescinded on or after January 20, 2025, for a covered position.
- 5Definitions and scope: Covered positions include NWS job series 1340 (meteorology), 1315 (hydrology), and 856 (electronics technician), or any successor series, with the Secretary defined as the Secretary of Commerce.