The Department of Defense has walked back its decision to stop sharing satellite storm data with federal forecasters.
In a stunning reversal, the Pentagon said it will uphold a longstanding program that supplies critical hurricane data to federal forecasters—just days before it was set to end. The move follows outcry from meteorologists and public officials blindsided by the planned cancellation at the start of hurricane season.
In June, the Navy’s Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC) announced it was shutting down the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program by Thursday, July 31. DMSP weather satellites are owned by the Department of Defense (DoD) and have provided storm data to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) since the 1960s. The announcement sparked outrage among weather officials preparing for an active hurricane season, which had only just begun. Then, on Wednesday, July 30, the Navy that it will keep the program going for another year.
“After feedback from government partners, officials found a way to meet modernization goals while keeping the data flowing until the sensor fails or the program formally ends in September 2026,” the Navy stated.
