GAO Report Warns Trump Cuts to Weather Satellites Could Create Decade-Long Forecasting Gap
A new GAO report warns that budget cuts to the next-generation GeoXO weather satellite program could leave the US without critical geostationary coverage in the early 2030s. The administration reduced the satellite count from six to four and eliminated three key instruments, including a lightning mapper. Experts and lawmakers argue these moves will set back weather forecasting by a decade and potentially make the new satellites less capable than current ones.