President Donald Trump has nominated Neil Jacobs to lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a move that has sparked controversy due to Jacobs’ involvement in the “Sharpiegate” scandal in 2019. During the incident, Trump altered a hurricane impact map, leading to a public dispute with Alabama meteorologists and subsequent criticism of Jacobs by the Department of Commerce inspector general. Despite this, Jacobs, a scientist at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, is known for his work in combining different computer forecasting systems for weather and climate.

NOAA, which oversees various crucial services like the National Weather Service and National Marine Fisheries Service, has been a target for change under Project 2025, a conservative initiative that aims to restructure federal agencies. The agency has also faced scrutiny for its role in climate change discussions, with calls to “break up NOAA” due to its alleged influence on the climate change alarm industry.

Despite the Sharpiegate controversy, Jacobs has garnered support from weather professionals at the American Meteorological Society meeting, with some expressing confidence in his leadership compared to other potential candidates. Jacobs himself has emphasized the importance of bipartisan support for meteorological efforts, highlighting the positive reception he received during a congressional hearing on NOAA’s reauthorization.

While Jacobs’ nomination has stirred mixed reactions, his background in atmospheric science and experience in weather forecasting systems position him as a strong candidate to lead NOAA, with some experts endorsing his appointment for the role.