Last weekend, more than 40 tornadoes ripped through eight states, leaving devastation in their wake. Arkansas, Missouri, Alabama, and Tennessee have been hit hard, with homes destroyed, communities shattered, and families grieving their losses. The extreme weather isn’t letting up, and thousands remain under threat. Yet, as disasters grow more frequent and severe, the very agency tasked with protecting us—NOAA—is being gutted, and MAGA Republicans couldn’t care less.

As a meteorology and political science graduate from Penn State, this issue hits incredibly close to home. Many of my closest friends have spent their careers working with NOAA—working tirelessly to improve weather forecasting, track storms, and save lives. But Trump and his allies have slashed NOAA’s budget, forcing over 1,800 critical experts out of their jobs. These aren’t just numbers—these are the people who issue tornado warnings, track hurricanes, and provide wildfire alerts. Their work saves lives. Their absence could cost them.

Now, NOAA is operating with limited resources while climate disasters intensify. Tornadoes are leveling towns. Flash floods are washing away homes. Wildfires are breaking out and destroying communities. Hurricane season is approaching fast. And what is MAGA doing? Cheering on these reckless cuts while handing tax breaks to billionaires and pretending climate change isn’t real. Trump’s administration, in partnership with the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, is gutting our country’s ability to respond to natural disasters—all while turning a blind eye to public safety and lining the pockets of the wealthy.

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders admits it will take "weeks and months" to recover from the latest tornado outbreak. But how many more communities will be left to fend for themselves before Republicans wake up? How many more lives will be put in danger because MAGA would rather cut resources from NOAA than keep our communities safe? This isn’t just incompetence—it’s cruelty.

We can’t sit back while MAGA extremists dismantle the agencies that keep Americans safe. NOAA must be fully funded. These reckless cuts must be reversed. And we must hold accountable those who are playing politics with people’s lives.

We need leaders who fight for the working class, not for corporations. Leaders who believe in science, not conspiracy theories. Leaders who care about keeping Americans safe. Join us in this fight to restore NOAA’s funding and push back against the GOP’s dangerous attacks on public safety.

Stay informed, stay engaged, and let’s demand better.