Shaheen & Moran to Secretary Ross: Comply With Inspector General and Disclose Report Outlining Political Interference into NOAA's Dorian Forecasts

(Washington, DC)—U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Jerry Moran (R-KS), the vice chair and chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, sent a letter today to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross after the Department of Commerce (DOC) Office of Inspector General (OIG) outlined a series of accusations regarding obstruction in completing a report concerning political interference in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) forecasting during Hurricane Dorian.

“After reviewing the statements included in the OIG’s Information Memorandum, we are compelled to remind you that the Committee expects all DOC employees to fully cooperate and assist the OIG in all investigative matters, and that any efforts to subvert or stifle the OIG are in direct defiance of the authorities granted to Inspector Generals by Congress under the Inspector General Act of 1978 (IG Act),” the Senators wrote.

The letter continues, “As such, we expect you to ensure that DOC is complying with the IG Act and to immediately rectify the issues outlined by the DOC OIG that are preventing the completion of the Evaluation of NOAA’s September 6, 2019, Statement About Hurricane Dorian Forecasts.”

The Senators’ letter can be read in full here.