FAA Facing Critical Shortage of Meteorologists

Report cites hiring freeze, early retirements, burnout, and low morale.

Zach Vasile

Thursday, September 04, 2025 at 07:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

A Delta Air Lines meteorology team provides weather forecasting. [Credit: Delta Air Lines]

Key Takeaways:

A federal watchdog (GAO) is concerned about a significant shortage of National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists at FAA air traffic control facilities, with current staffing at 69 falling below the target of 81 due to hiring freezes, budget cuts, and worsening conditions.
This understaffing causes burnout, fatigue, and low morale among meteorologists, increasing the risk of errors that could impact flight safety, efficiency, and lead to widespread delays or cancellations.
The GAO recommends that the FAA urgently identify and address potential risks to the national airspace system caused by these staffing levels.
The Department of Transportation acknowledged the staffing shortage and agreed to address risks but concurrently revealed plans for a new model in FY2026 that would further reduce the number of NWS meteorologists at FAA facilities to 64.

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A federal government watchdog agency is raising concerns about the steady drop in meteorologists at FAA air traffic control (ATC) facilities.

In a report released last week, the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) said that, as of June, there were 69 National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists assigned to the FAA’s en route centers, below the target of 81 set by an agreement between the FAA and the NWS. The report’s authors linked the shortfall to a federal hiring freeze, budget cuts, and voluntary early retirement programs, as well as the worsening working conditions the remaining meteorologists face as their ranks are thinned.