{
  "id": 617131,
  "title": "July’s Heat Made History. Trump’s Cuts Could Leave Us Less Prepared for What Comes Next",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/julys-heat-made-history-trumps-cuts-could-leave-us-less-prepared-for",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-11T19:47:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Time",
    "slug": "time",
    "url": "https://time.com/article/2026/08/11/julys-record-breaking-heat/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "July was the hottest month ever recorded in the contiguous United States, with an average temperature of 76.9°F, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Every state experienced temperatures at least 1 degree above their 20th-century average. Extreme heat can lead to serious health issues such as heat stroke, cardiovascular disease, and even death. The World Health Organization (WHO) links these conditions to high temperatures.\n\nHowever, the Trump Administration has reduced NOAA's workforce and proposed steep cuts to its funding, hampering the agency's ability to monitor weather conditions and provide forecasts. The National Weather Service (NWS), which falls under NOAA, has lost about 15% of its workforce through layoffs and retirements. This has forced the NWS to scale back on tools used to track weather patterns, including weather balloons.\n\nThe lack of accurate data due to these cuts makes it difficult for agencies to anticipate future events and inform vulnerable communities about necessary precautions. Heat waves have already caused numerous deaths and illnesses in the United States and Europe. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people with chronic medical conditions, children, and adults over 65 are particularly vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat.\n\nThe NWS relies on various methods to track weather, such as surface stations at airports, weather balloons, marine buoys, and satellites. These observations help meteorologists understand developing weather patterns and anticipate dangerous conditions. When weather agencies have fewer resources, they may struggle to keep communities informed and prepared for extreme heat events.",
  "summary": "The federal agencies that monitor and forecast extreme weather are operating with fewer people and an uncertain funding future.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}