{"id":2615230,"date":"2026-06-17T13:49:01","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T17:49:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senators-push-to-triple-noaas-hurricane-hunter-fleet\/"},"modified":"2026-06-17T13:53:08","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T17:53:08","slug":"senators-push-to-triple-noaas-hurricane-hunter-fleet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senators-push-to-triple-noaas-hurricane-hunter-fleet\/","title":{"rendered":"Senators push to triple NOAA&#8217;s Hurricane Hunter fleet"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsenators-push-to-triple-noaas-hurricane-hunter-fleet%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2615230&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A bipartisan group of senators has introduced legislation to enhance NOAA&#8217;s Hurricane Hunter fleet by adding new aircraft and formalizing the agency&#8217;s role in meteorological research. The bill, led by Senators Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell, aims to allocate $2.5 billion for new aircraft and $5 million annually for specialized pilots, ensuring NOAA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >vital reconnaissance missions continue effectively<\/a>. Currently, NOAA operates aging aircraft-two WP-3D Orion planes named \u201cKermit\u201d and \u201cMiss Piggy,\u201d and a Gulfstream IV-SP named \u201cGonzo\u201d-which fly into hurricanes to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-urges-army-to-develop-ai-neural-sensors-to-track-soldiers-mental-states\/\" title=\"... urges army to create AI sensors for tracking soldiers&#039; mental states.\">gather real-time data<\/a> on storm conditions. These aircraft, which have been in service for years, face wear and tear, necessitating replacements and upgrades. The proposed legislation would enable NOAA to expand its fleet to nine aircraft, purchase advanced equipment like Doppler radars, and ensure these missions remain under NOAA&#8217;s control rather than being transferred to other agencies such as the Air Force, which lacks comparable equipment. The bill also addresses concerns about budget constraints, as current funding does not support fleet expansion despite congressional authorization for tripling the fleet size. Additionally, the Trump administration&#8217;s budget proposal to cut NOAA\u2019s research budget faces opposition, especially amid the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sonic-boom-heard-in-dc-area-caused-by-authorized-dod-flight-officials-say\/\" title=\"DOD flight caused &#039;sonic boom&#039; in DC area, officials confirm.\">upcoming hurricane season<\/a>. the legislation seeks to bolster NOAA\u2019s capacity to improve storm forecasting and safety.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">New legislation introduced by a bipartisan group of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"8765\">senators<\/a> strives to add new aircraft to the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/noaa\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2855\">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\u2019s<\/a> Hurricane Hunter fleet and codify the agency\u2019s role in meteorological research.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The bill was introduced by Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ted-cruz\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"185\">Ted Cruz<\/a> (R-TX), the chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/maria-cantwell\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1032\">Maria Cantwell<\/a> (D-WA), the ranking member, as well as six other senators from both sides of the aisle.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4612317\/senate-jay-clayton-confirmation-hearing-trump-cancel\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Senate to move forward with Jay Clayton confirmation hearing despite Trump\u2019s attempt to pull the plug<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4611566\/trump-jay-clayton-hearing-fisa-canceling\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump \u2018canceling\u2019 Jay Clayton hearing, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-canceling-jay-clayton-hearing\/\" title=\"Trump \u2018canceling\u2019 Jay Clayton hearing\">throwing quick confirmation<\/a> into further doubt<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4611555\/susan-collins-kavanaugh-vote-abortion\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Collins says \u2018I do not regret\u2019 confirming Kavanaugh despite Roe v. Wade reversal<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NOAA\u2019s Hurricane Hunter Fleet consists of two WP-3D Orion four-engine aircraft, dubbed \u201cKermit\u201d and \u201cMiss Piggy,\u201d and one Gulfstream IV-SP aircraft, which fly directly into hurricanes to collect data and help forecasters understand storm processes and improve forecasting.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kermit and Miss Piggy spend 8-10 hours cutting in and out of hurricanes as scientists investigate wind, pressure, humidity, and temperature changes as they descend toward the ocean to get a real-time look at storms. The pair of P-3 aircraft\u2019s service will expire in 2030.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The G-IV, also known as \u201cGonzo,\u201d similarly paints a detailed picture of weather in the upper atmosphere and has flown around nearly every Atlantic-based hurricane that has threatened the United States since 1997. Each mission covers thousands of miles surrounding hurricanes as researchers aboard map the movement of storms.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The age of Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Gonzo has led to problems with the aircraft as they undergo significant wear and tear when they fly into severe weather.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Senators on the commerce committee are pushing legislation to grant NOAA $2.5 billion for new aircraft and an additional $5 million per year to hire uniquely qualified pilots to fly them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If passed, the bill could formalize NOAA\u2019s role in forecasting and reconnaissance into law, which could help protect its Hurricane Hunter fleet from having its responsibilities absorbed by another agency, such as the Air Force.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Air Force also conducts missions going into hurricanes, but its aircraft lack the fine-tuned equipment used by NOAA.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap\" style=\"min-height:5px;\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" style=\"display:none;\">Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Additionally, the proposed funding would enable NOAA to acquire cutting-edge equipment, including tail-mounted Doppler radars used to scan storms horizontally and vertically, to better understand storm processes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NOAA has congressional authorization to triple its fleet to six aircraft, but Congress has not included budget provisions for such an increase. The new bill would direct the agency to increase its fleet to nine aircraft, create a pathway for funding, and require new planes to be \u201cmanned,\u201d ruling out a possible drone replacement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4612317\/senate-jay-clayton-confirmation-hearing-trump-cancel\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4612317\/senate-jay-clayton-confirmation-hearing-trump-cancel\/\">SENATE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH JAY CLAYTON CONFIRMATION HEARING DESPITE TRUMP\u2019S ATTEMPT TO PULL THE PLUG<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Trump administration\u2019s most <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/time-may-be-running-out-to-defend-taiwan\/\" title=\"Time May Be Running Out to Defend Taiwan\">recent budget request<\/a> would slash NOAA\u2019s research department, which could significantly harm efforts to improve hurricane forecasts. The request is likely to receive pushback from Congress, especially as hurricane season ramps up in the Atlantic region.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> reached out to members of the Senate commerce committee for comment. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bipartisan senators propose new NOAA hurricane aircraft fleet and research role<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2615231,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Ensigns-pose-in-front-of-NOAA42-Kermit-e1781714650182.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[81328,42723,81329,50334,81330],"class_list":["post-2615230","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-hurricane-hunter","tag-hurricanes","tag-marine-technology","tag-noaa","tag-weather-research"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Ensigns-pose-in-front-of-NOAA42-Kermit-e1781714650182.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2615230","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2615230"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2615230\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2615234,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2615230\/revisions\/2615234"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2615231"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2615230"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2615230"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2615230"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}