LA/Oxnard Office Serves More Than 11.3 Million Californians
OXNARD, CA — U.S. Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30) toured the National Weather Service Weather (NWS) Forecast Office in Oxnard and spoke to the meteorologists, scientists, and office staff responsible for forecasting and issuing warnings across the third-most populous district in the nation, which encompasses Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo.
“Every single American depends on the work of the National Weather Service, whether they’re a pilot landing a plane or a beachgoer watching out for high surf. Trump’s cuts to this resource leave our communities completely in the dark,” said Congresswoman Laura Friedman (CA-30). “I’m fighting in Congress to keep this service alive, because we can’t afford to be caught off guard the next time disaster strikes.”
The NWS operates 122 forecasting offices across the nation and works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week gathering data and issuing forecasts and severe weather warnings for the public and emergency responders. The services provided by the NSW are estimated to provide $100 billion in benefits to the American public by helping communities prepare for severe weather events, a massive return on taxpayer investment.
Friedman has been an early critic of the Trump Administration and DOGE’s cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which oversees the NWS. She has also prioritized legislation that takes care of victims of disasters. The Don’t Penalize Victims Act prevents disaster survivors, like those from the Eaton and Palisades fires, from being punished for accepting charity from their community. It is now included in the FEMA Reform Act of 2025.
Below: Friedman tours the NWS Weather Forecast Office.