The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a United States federal scientific and regulatory institution within the Department of Commerce. Its mission is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, ocean, and coasts, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources. The agency was formally established on October 3, 1970, by President Richard Nixon via Reorganization Plan No. 4. The creation of NOAA solved the problem of fragmented environmental science by consolidating several existing agencies, including the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey (founded in 1807) and the Weather Bureau (founded in 1870), into a single entity.
NOAA works through six major line offices, such as the National Weather Service (NWS), which provides weather and climate forecasts, and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), which manages fisheries and protects marine mammals. The NWS issues over 734,000 weather and 850,000 river forecasts annually, utilizing a nationwide network of Doppler weather radars (NEXRAD). The NMFS operates under laws like the Magnuson Stevens Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act to ensure sustainable fishing and protect endangered species. NOAA's work connects directly to global issues like climate change and ozone depletion, and it holds key leadership roles in shaping international ocean and weather policies.
Recently, NOAA has faced significant proposed changes, including budget cuts and the potential termination of programs, particularly those related to climate research, under the second Trump administration. For instance, the administration canceled three instruments on a new generation of geostationary satellites, which were intended to measure air pollutants and track lightning. Despite these proposals, Congress approved a $6.1 billion budget in March 2026, though this was a reduction from the previous budget. NOAA continues to advance its forecasting capabilities, such as the development of the Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System (HAFS) model.