Sponsors (17)
The bill strengthens continuity and oversight of NOAA datasets critical for forecasts and emergency response but does so at the cost of added procurement oversight that may raise taxpayer costs and slow contract management and modernization.
State governments, federal agencies, NOAA data users, and emergency managers retain continuous access to NOAA environmental and weather datasets because cancellations must include transition plans and Commerce must coordinate with NOAA, preserving data custody and continuity needed for forecasts and emergency response.
Taxpayers and federal agencies may face higher costs because requirements that delay or prevent contract terminations can prolong reliance on underperforming or costly cloud providers.
Commerce and other federal procurement offices will incur added administrative burden and potential slowdowns managing cloud contracts, which could slow modernization efforts and delay security remediation.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Conditions canceling cloud contracts that store NOAA data on having a continuity/transition plan and coordination with NOAA to ensure uninterrupted protection and storage.
Prohibits the Secretary of Commerce from canceling a cloud contract that stores a NOAA data set unless two conditions are met: (1) a plan is in place to ensure uninterrupted storage and transition procedures to an alternate cloud provider with reporting systems, and (2) the Secretary has coordinated with the NOAA Administrator to ensure continued protection of the data set. The Act also directs that the bill be given a short title.
Introduced November 20, 2025 by Sarah Elfreth · Last progress November 20, 2025