Chairman Babin Responds to GAO Report on NOAA's Next-Generation Weather Satellite Program

119th Congress Space Weather

(Washington, D.C.) - Today, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Brian Babin issued the following statement in response to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report examining challenges facing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) next-generation Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) satellite program. The report follows a request from the Committee in the 118th Congress to review the program's cost, schedule, and management. GAO identified concerns with cost estimates, contingency planning, and technology readiness, including a potential gap in critical weather observations.

"Taxpayers deserve accountability for major federal investments, especially when critical weather forecasting capabilities are at stake," said Chairman Babin. "GAO's findings underscore the need for continued oversight of GeoXO's costs, schedule, and risk management. We are hopeful that the Administration's recent restructuring of the program will address many of the concerns identified in this report. However, questions remain about how those changes will affect the program's overall cost, timeline, and ability to provide uninterrupted weather data. This Committee will continue working to ensure NOAA manages this investment responsibly and preserves the satellite capabilities our nation depends on."

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