2026 Report to the United States Congress

This is a critical juncture in time, critical for NOAA, an agency undergoing rapid change and modernization, to develop new practices that will usher in a safer, more prosperous and more cost-effective future. NOAA must undergo this critical transformation while simultaneously supplying the observations, forecasts and warnings that keep people safe and help businesses prosper. And this transformation is currently being conducted with a workforce that has been reduced, staff that are taking on double and sometimes triple responsibilities, and a scientific research budget that has been reduced or delayed. In this year’s annual Report to Congress, we recognize and illuminate these issues. We highlight the significant steps that have been taken in the year since our 2025 Report to Congress, and we highlight critical actions needed to continue the transformation process.