The federal government's mass culling of employees has reached Oklahoma's National Weather Center and other weather offices across the country just as tornado season approaches. So far, federal officials have been silent about the decision by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency to send home hundreds of people who help predict the weather and warn the public about severe storms.

On Feb. 26, 2023, an EF2 tornado touched down in East Norman, causing widespread damage, road closure and resulting in at least 12 weather-related injuries.

Hundreds of weather forecasters and other federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employees are out of a job. Lawmakers in Washington say the layoffs include National Weather Service meteorologists.