Scientists and politicians are sounding the alarm about potential consequences of the layoffs, including keeping people safe and protecting the economy.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration houses key groups like the National Weather Service. Experts warn the consequences of employee cuts could be drastic.

New layoffs under the Trump administration have hit NOAA, including the National Weather Service, with 5% of employees fired. NBC News' Bill Karins reports on the potential impact on severe weather warnings.

The threat of federal cuts poses risks to the National Weather Service's field office, and to research funding at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography.

About 10% of the NOAA workforce was laid off, according to some reports, in a move that could kneecap the agency's ability to forecast local and national weather events.