Lutnick Says Hurricane Center’s Fully Staffed Despite Vacancies

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told a congressional committee that the US National Hurricane Center was fully staffed even though key positions are going unfilled as hurricane season begins.

“There are no openings on the National Hurricane Center. Zero,” Lutnick said during a Senate Appropriations Committee meeting Wednesday. “We are fully staffed. We are fully ready for hurricane season.”

Yet the center’s website shows at least four meteorologist roles are vacant. While such vacancies may not have drawn much attention during previous hurricane seasons, staffing numbers are coming under increased scrutiny this year.

That’s because the Trump administration’s overhaul at weather ...