Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., released a statement saying: “Today, hundreds of employees at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including weather forecasters at the National Weather Service (NWS), were given termination notices for no good reason. This is unconscionable.”

The cuts came just before a separate wave of departures was expected under the Trump administration’s so-called deferred resignation program.

At least 500 staffers, mostly probationary workers including 375 who work at NOAA’s National Weather Service offices nationwide, were notified via email.