FORECAST Act

This bill aims to safeguard critical public safety functions by exempting certain positions within the National Weather Service from any federal government hiring freezes. Specifically, it covers roles in meteorology , hydrology , and electronics technician job series, recognizing their necessity for issuing weather and flood warnings, maintaining observational equipment, and protecting life and property from weather-related hazards. The legislation mandates the Secretary of Commerce to implement this exemption within 30 days of enactment. Furthermore, it requires the Secretary to submit an annual report to Congress detailing staffing levels for these covered positions. Significantly, the bill also applies retroactively, negating any job offers for covered positions that were rescinded on or after January 20, 2025.