AP science writer Seth Borenstein obtained a list of vacancy numbers at National Weather Service offices across the United States and set out to verify the data through meticulous reporting. He contacted local weather offices, reviewed online staff directories, and spoke with NWS employees to confirm the accuracy of the figures.
Borenstein also worked with longtime sources and a congressional office to verify portions of the list. His reporting revealed that nearly half of NWS offices had vacancy rates of 20 percent or more, with some locations facing even more severe staffing shortages.
He contextualized the numbers by showing how a reduced workforce can hinder the agency’s ability to issue severe weather warnings—alerts that are often life-saving.
The scoop stood alone, offering a level of detail and analysis unmatched by other news outlets and reinforcing AP’s leadership in science and public safety reporting.
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