Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.), the committee's ranking minority member, and Rep. David Wu (D-Ore.) ranking member on the environment technology and standards subcommittee, said NOAA's Administrator, Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr. (Ret.) and Gen. John J. Kelly Jr., Deputy Undersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, should be fired.

At issue is the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System, or NPOESS, the next generation of civilian/military weather forecasting spacecraft. Legislators in both political parties consider the project a financial disaster.

In March 2005, NPOESS was budgeted at $6.8 billion, but current cost estimates have ballooned to $13.8 billion. NOAA's entire annual budget is $4 billion. NPOESS also is at least three years behind its targeted year for becoming operational: 2009.

"The consequences of NOAA's failed leadership will affect every sector of our nation's economy and the daily lives of all Americans," Wu said in a statement.

NPOESS is intended to provide accurate weather forecasts for up to seven days.

"This program may sound arcane and technical, but it isn't just about the inconvenience of getting a little wet because you didn't take your raincoat," Gordon said. "This satellite will improve hurricane prediction, help farmers better gauge planting/harvesting schedules, aid energy companies in accurately estimating consumer's rates, and much more."

Gordon and Wu pointed to a report issued last week by the Commerce Department's Inspector General that documents cost overruns and schedule delays in the NPOESS program.

At hearings convened to receive the report, Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-N.Y.), the Science Committee chairman, expressed some of his own concerns about NPOESS.

"A degraded satellite system will cost lives," Boehlert said in his opening statement, "whether those are the lives of civilians who do not get the best information about approaching storms, or military personnel who lack information on weather patterns that could affect the success of their operations."

Boehlert said it is obvious NPOESS is not achieving its goals. "It is at least 17 months behind schedule, raising the specter of a gap in satellite coverage," he said, "and it is as much as $3 billion over budget."

Because of the inspector general's report, the NPOESS is now under review by the Department of Defense, which shares responsibility for the program with NOAA and NASA.

It is possible, Gordon and Wu said, that because of cost overruns DOD might cancel its participation in the program, leaving NOAA to bear the costs single-handed. DOD's decision is due June 6.

Gordon and Wu have written President George W. Bush, urging him to replace NOAA's leadership. "We passionately believe that public service should require competence and personal accountability," the letter said.

"At NOAA, the evidence is in that a monumental failure of leadership and management has occurred. We urge you to immediately intervene and replace Admiral Lautenbacher and General Kelly, holding them accountable for the dismal failure at NOAA."

Related Links
NPOESS
Commerce IG Report