Neil Jacobs, who previously served as acting administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) during the controversial “Sharpie-gate” incident in 2019, has been selected again by former President Donald Trump to lead the agency. This new appointment draws attention to an episode that sparked significant discussion about scientific integrity in weather forecasting.
In September 2019, as Hurricane Dorian approached, President Trump inaccurately claimed that Alabama was in the storm’s path, contradicted by the National Weather Service’s statements indicating no expected impacts for the state. Following this, Trump displayed an altered map during a press briefing, which fueled widespread criticism. An inspector general’s report later highlighted that NOAA leadership, including Jacobs, released a statement supporting the President—a move that was suggested to be politically motivated and detrimental to NOAA’s forecasters.
The National Academy of Public Administration, in its report, criticized the leadership for failing to uphold the ethical standards of scientific conduct, concluding that their actions reflected external political pressure. Jacobs reportedly felt cornered and believed that if he did not support the final statement, it would result in a more damaging outcome.
Despite the controversy, many meteorologists have expressed their support for Jacobs in the wake of his re-nomination. Victor Gensini, a professor of meteorology, stated that Jacobs’ appointment could be beneficial for the agency, suggesting that his background and experience might help restore confidence within NOAA.
This situation presents an opportunity for Jacobs to potentially reshape NOAA’s reputation amidst challenging past events and foster a better environment for scientific integrity. The positive outlook is that with the right leadership, NOAA can reinforce its commitment to objective weather forecasting and regain trust from both the public and scientific community.