Government shutdown, budget cuts weigh on weather professionals, state climatologist says

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JOHNSTON — Iowa’s state climatologist is preparing for the possibility of a federal government shutdown — “We’ve been here before,” he said Friday — but also is concerned about the impact federal budget cuts are having on weather and climate monitoring and warning systems and the workers who operate them.

Justin Glisan, the Iowa state climatologist since 2018, said Friday that he is preparing to help National Weather Service employees by taking some of their climate work.

Funding for federal government operations expires on Wednesday, and Republicans and Democrats appear at a stalemate over a new funding bill, according to national media reports.

During a federal government shutdown, the Nat