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The National Weather Service of the United States (NWS) has ceased translating its climate content into other languages, including Spanish translations of alerts, a measure that experts say could cost lives in emergency situations.
The federal agency, which is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), confirmed that the contract with the artificial intelligence company Lilt, responsible for translations since late 2023, recently expired and has not been renewed.
The interruption occurs just as the administration of President Donald Trump has implemented a series of budget cuts that have profoundly affected several federal agencies, including NOAA.
"It's like turning off the siren before the storm, but only for those who don't speak English," commented Norma Mendoza-Denton, an anthropology professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, and an expert in sociolinguistics.
A silence that puts lives at risk
Nearly 68 million people in the United States speak a language other than English at home, including over 42 million Spanish speakers, according to 2019 data. For them, weather translations are not a luxury, but a vital necessity.
Joseph Trujillo Falcón, a researcher at the University of Illinois and collaborator with NOAA on multilingual communication issues, warned that the decision could have tragic consequences. He recalled an incident from 2021 in Kentucky when a Hispanic family only responded to a tornado alert upon receiving it in Spanish.
"That translation saved lives," he stated.
The researcher explained that for years, translations were done manually by bilingual meteorologists, a practice that is unsustainable during extreme weather events such as hurricanes or tornadoes.
With Lilt, the NWS had made significant progress in offering content in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and Samoan, enabling millions to understand forecasts, warnings, and precautionary measures. But now, that effort has been suspended indefinitely.
Cuts, layoffs, and a weakened NOAA
The decision to suspend translations is not an isolated incident; it occurs amidst cuts initiated by the Trump administration.
In March, more than 1,000 NOAA employees -about 10% of its workforce- were laid off, adding to the layoffs and incentivized retirements that began in February.
Among the visible consequences, NOAA has already stopped launching weather balloons in key locations such as Albany, New York, and Gray, Maine, due to staff shortages. There are also concerns that the cuts will affect research aimed at improving forecasting accuracy and response to climate emergencies.
Rick Spinrad, former administrator of NOAA, was blunt in his assessment: "This is not government efficiency; it is the first step towards the eradication of an agency essential for public safety."
Craig McLean, former chief scientist of NOAA, warned that the country is on the verge of losing its global leadership in weather technology. "The public will start to notice the difference: less accurate predictions, slower responses, and poorly informed decisions."
More than just the climate: a matter of equity
For academics like Andrew Kruczkiewicz, a researcher at Columbia University, this is not just a technical problem but a failure in social equity.
"We're not just talking about hurricanes or tornadoes. Daily decisions regarding transportation, agriculture, tourism, or energy depend on weather forecasts. And if part of the population does not understand that data, they are at a disadvantage," he said.
On social media, outrage is growing among immigrant communities, community leaders, and civil rights organizations who accuse the government of ignoring the most vulnerable populations.
"This measure condemns millions of people to informational silence in the midst of climate chaos," stated a spokesperson for the group LatinoJustice PRLDEF.
What’s next?
At the moment, no replacement for the translation system has been announced, nor has a date been set to resume the service. There is also no clarity on whether the contract with Lilt will be renewed or if another technological or human solution will be sought.
The spokesperson for the Meteorological Service, Michael Musher, simply stated that the agency has "paused" the translations. Lilt, for its part, has not responded to requests for comments.
But while Washington debates budgets and contracts, millions of residents in the United States could face the next climate emergency without knowing what to do or where to go.
And in the words of the experts, that informational disconnection could have an incalculable cost.
Impact of the Suspension of Climate Alert Translations in the United States
Why has the U.S. National Weather Service stopped translating climate alerts into Spanish?
The contract with the artificial intelligence company Lilt, responsible for translations, has expired and has not been renewed. This decision coincides with the budget cuts driven by the administration of Donald Trump, affecting several federal agencies, including NOAA, on which the National Weather Service (NWS) relies.
What consequences can the lack of translations of climate alerts have for Spanish speakers in the U.S.?
The lack of translations can put the lives of millions of people who do not speak English at risk. Especially in situations of climatic emergencies, such as tornadoes and hurricanes, understanding alerts and precautionary measures is crucial for the safety of these vulnerable communities.
How many people could be affected by the suspension of translations of climate alerts?
Around 68 million people in the United States speak a language other than English at home, including more than 42 million Spanish speakers. These individuals may face significant challenges in understanding critical weather alerts.
What has been the reaction of experts and communities to the suspension of climate alert translations?
The decision has generated a wave of criticism from scientists, academics, and vulnerable communities. Experts warn about the potential tragic consequences, and community leaders of civil rights accuse the government of ignoring the most vulnerable populations, condemning them to informational silence amid the climate chaos.
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