Trump Administration Shuts Down Crucial Database Monitoring Extreme Weather Costs Since 1980

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has decided to retire its renowned “billion-dollar weather and climate disasters” database. This change could hinder public access to crucial data on the financial impacts of extreme weather events.

Due to staffing reductions, NOAA is also scaling back its services. This includes an array of climate-related programs that many believe are essential for public awareness and safety.

Since its inception in 1980, the disasters database has provided invaluable insights into the costs of natural disasters, from hurricanes to hailstorms. However, after 2024, the database will no longer receive updates, limiting its usefulness for tracking financial impacts over time. Critics argue that this move hinders transparency about how fossil fuel pollution exacerbates extreme weather and its costs to society.

While some experts assert the database illustrates a link between increasing disaster costs and climate change, NOAA clarifies that the product does not focus specifically on attributing events to climate change. Instead, factors like population growth and development in vulnerable areas often drive disaster-related losses.

Recent studies suggest there is a notable shift in weather patterns, with a rise in the frequency and severity of extreme weather cases, largely due to climate change. According to the database, the U.S. has experienced 403 billion-dollar weather disasters since 1980, racking up losses exceeding $2.945 trillion. Interestingly, no billion-dollar disasters had been recorded in 2025 as of early April, but potential events, such as January wildfires in Los Angeles, could tip that balance.

On average, nine disasters per year were recorded between 1980 and 2024, but the past five years have seen that number surge to 24 per year. The peak occurred in 2023, with a record-breaking 28 billion-dollar disasters.

What makes the billion-dollar disasters database particularly valuable is its unique access to non-public data from private and industry sources. Jeremy Porter, co-founder of First Street, a climate risk modeling firm, highlighted that the database uses standardized methods across decades, which is hard to replicate elsewhere. He indicated that without this database, conducting thorough damage trend analyses would require considerable funding or institutional access.

Other reports echo concerns about rising natural disaster costs. For instance, Swiss Re estimates that global insured losses could reach up to $145 billion in 2025, indicating a steady annual increase of 5% to 7%.

Sadly, this database is not the only casualty of recent staffing cuts at NOAA, which has been significantly impacted by a reduction in its workforce. The National Weather Service has also faced limitations in its services and data availability. Moreover, plans for further cuts could eliminate NOAA’s research division and vital weather and climate labs, further isolating crucial data from public access.

The proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 suggests a 24% reduction in NOAA’s funding compared to 2025, raising concerns about future capabilities in weather monitoring and climate research.

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