Deadly Tornado Toll Raises Questions about Trump’s Weather Service Cuts
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – At least 27 people died in recent severe weather across the US Midwest and South, with experts blaming staffing cuts at the National Weather Service under the Trump administration for hampering timely warnings.
Storms and tornadoes swept parts of Kentucky, Missouri and Virginia on Friday and Saturday, killing 18 in Kentucky alone and nine elsewhere.
In Laurel County, Kentucky, 17 residents died and dozens were injured after a tornado demolished homes and tossed vehicles.
One of the fatalities was Fire Department Maj. Roger Leslie Leatherman, a 39‑year veteran who was struck and killed while responding to the disaster.
Missouri officials reported seven deaths in the St. Louis area, where tornadoes and straight‑line winds damaged more than 5,000 homes.
Virginia authorities confirmed two additional deaths after severe thunderstorms moved through the state.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said parts of two dozen state roads remained closed and the death toll could rise as search teams continued to scour wreckage for survivors.
He appealed for outside assistance, saying: “We need the whole world right now to be really good neighbors to this region.”
Mayor Cara Spencer of St. Louis described the scene as “truly heartbreaking” after confirming five deaths, 38 injuries and extensive damage to homes and public buildings.
Analysts point to staffing reductions at key National Weather Service offices—Jackson, Louisville and St. Louis—that have exceeded 20 percent nationwide vacancy thresholds.
A March 2025 internal report showed Jackson was 25 percent understaffed, Louisville 29 percent and St. Louis 16 percent, with Louisville lacking a permanent meteorologist‑in‑charge.
Experts warn that such shortfalls undermine forecast accuracy and delay life‑saving alerts, noting that even a 25 percent vacancy rate makes precise warnings “virtually impossible.”
The storms follow another deadly round in Kentucky two months ago that claimed 24 lives after flash floods and tornadoes overwhelmed local infrastructure.
Severe weather forecasters say the risk of further tornadoes and large hail will persist into Sunday across parts of the Plains and High Plains.
