NOAA Email Chaos, Weather Funding Cuts & Stopping Science

Date: Jan 30-31st 2025

A newly implemented, centralized email system for federal employees, spearheaded by the Trump administration, experienced a significant security breach on or around January 30, 2025. This breach allowed external actors to send abusive and inappropriate messages to approximately 13,000 employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This incident exposed serious vulnerabilities within the new system, raising concerns about its security, management, and the broader implications for federal communications. Furthermore, it highlighted controversial changes at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which was reportedly responsible for the system’s implementation.

Key Themes and Findings:

1. System Vulnerability and Inadequate Security:

• The new email system, designed to reach all 2.3 million federal employees from a single address, was "cobbled together" rapidly, lacking basic security measures or screening protocols. As one NOAA employee stated, “Goes to show you how fast this [new comms system] was cobbled together – no security or screening on this address.”

1. Abusive and Inappropriate Content:

• The 13,000 NOAA employees received a barrage of offensive emails, including:
• An email with the subject "Resign," containing the message: "Aren’t you tired of working for a complete c*nt?”
• An “Important Weather Alert” about a “99% chance of shit showers” over the next four years.
• Crude and inflammatory messages critical of President Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
• Spam subscription confirmation for "Scientology Today."
• Links to a personal newsletter from journalist Ken Klippenstein.
• These messages were described as “extremely offensive,” and “vulgar.”

1. Controversial Changes at OPM:

• The email system was implemented by a new team at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which reportedly replaced experienced staff with "lackeys from his previous ventures." This reportedly included young, inexperienced individuals from Elon Musk's previous ventures (e.g. xAI, Neuralink, and Peter Thiel’s firms).
• The OPM’s former Chief Information Officer, Melvin Brown II, was reportedly fired for refusing to implement the new email system.
• The new email system is reportedly part of a wider plan for the Trump administration to gather information on government employees and implement a “hostile takeover” of the OPM.
• The OPM's new system is the subject of a class-action lawsuit alleging violations of Bush-era cyber security standards.

1. Immediate Response and Internal Review:

• NOAA Deputy Director of Communications Scott Smullen apologized to staff and stated, “I will report it.”
• Vice Admiral Nancy Hann, NOAA's deputy undersecretary for operations, confirmed the “cyber attack,” acknowledging the offensive emails and apparent “phishing attempts”. She stated, “I am sorry that you were subject to these inappropriate messages and want you to know that we take these matters very seriously.”
• An investigation was launched by NOAA's Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) to prevent future incidents.

Quotes from Sources:

• “Aren’t you tired of working for a complete c*nt?” (Subject line of an email sent to NOAA employees)
• “Goes to show you how fast this [new comms system] was cobbled together – no security or screening on this address.” (NOAA employee quote)