Mon May 26 13:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Scorching Summer Looms as Climate Cuts Threaten US Response to Extreme Heat

**Washington D.C.** – A brutal summer of unrelenting heat and drought is forecast to grip the United States, stretching from Nevada to Florida, raising alarm among experts who fear that previous administration’s cuts to crucial climate and disaster response agencies will severely hamper the nation’s ability to cope.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts that virtually all of the country, with the exception of far northern Alaska, will experience unusually warm temperatures from June through August. This grim forecast comes as many regions are already feeling the effects of summer-like heat, with record-breaking temperatures and wildfires plaguing states like Minnesota.

Across the West, rapid snowmelt due to lack of precipitation has sparked fears of intensified drought and wildfires. Meanwhile, ongoing droughts are worsening in Florida and the mid-Atlantic states.

The extreme weather arrives amid concerns about reduced funding and staffing at federal science and disaster response agencies, consequences of past budget cuts. The Houston office of the National Weather Service, for example, is reportedly critically understaffed, raising concerns as a busy hurricane season approaches.

Experts warn that the extreme heat will exacerbate existing public health threats. Excessive heat is already the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the US, with heat-related fatalities having increased by 117% since 1999.

While the current administration implemented worker safety guidelines to address extreme heat, it remains unclear what will happen moving forward. As a result, cities and states are stepping up, implementing heat action plans and investments into cooling centers and education. However, some cities have struggled to keep up with the pace of change.

The forecast of a scorching summer continues a worrying trend fueled by climate change, with extreme weather increasingly posing a life-threatening emergency across the country.

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