NOAA Officials on Leave Amidst "Sharpiegate" Fallout and Administration Clashes

Two high-ranking officials at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), who were involved in the investigation of the "Sharpiegate" scandal, have been placed on leave. The report indicates that the leave was initiated amidst disagreements with the Trump administration.

Steve Volz, the assistant administrator in the agency’s Satellite and Information Service, and Jeff Dillen, the deputy general counsel for the agency, were the individuals placed on leave this week. Both had played a role in the investigation surrounding the "Sharpiegate" incident. This scandal involved President Donald Trump's use of a black marker to alter a hurricane map in 2019, inaccurately suggesting the storm would impact Alabama. NOAA subsequently issued a statement supporting Trump's claims, contradicting its own scientists.

The investigation into the incident revealed that NOAA leaders had violated the agency’s scientific integrity policy. One of these leaders was Neil Jacobs, who had been nominated by the president to lead NOAA. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation was scheduled to vote on his nomination.

A former NOAA official expressed that the timing of the leave was a notable coincidence. A spokesperson for the agency provided explanations for the leave of both men. Dillen's leave was attributed to a review of performance issues, while Volz's leave was related to an unrelated matter.

Volz, who has extensive experience in aerospace and is the agency’s longest-serving assistant administrator, also questioned the timing of the leave. He suggested that the move might be intended to remove individuals who could potentially hinder the administration's plans.

Furthermore, discussions about privatizing some of NOAA’s satellite operations have been ongoing, leading to conflicts between the officials and new Trump administration appointees. Volz has also supported the use of government satellites, while utilizing private companies for data. A conservative plan for a second Trump presidency, Project 2025, proposes breaking up NOAA and fully commercializing the National Weather Service's forecasting operations.