In recent weeks, the state-run National Meteorological Service (SMN, by its Spanish acronym) has faced significant threats of substantial cuts mandated by Deregulation and State Transformation Minister, Federico Sturzenegger. The administration of Javier Milei has already cut 200 positions at the SMN as part of its strategy to downsize the government. A representative characterized this new reduction as the initial phase in a series of three steps intended to “modernize the organization.” Sturzenegger contends that an additional 240 employees could be laid off — 130 from meteorological stations nationwide and 110 from headquarters — which would equate to a 30% decrease in the agency’s civilian workforce. This has ignited a discussion regarding the expenses associated with a highly effective public service that is crucial for sectors such as aviation and agriculture, while also delivering weather warnings for potentially harmful events like strong winds and heavy rainfall. The State Workers Association has expressed concerns that this plan jeopardizes essential services, including early warning systems, air travel, maritime and river navigation, as well as agricultural production. An illustrative instance of the weather service’s efforts was evident during the Bahía Blanca floods in 2025. On March 17, 29 centimeters of rain were recorded in under 12 hours — approximately 50% of the city’s typical annual rainfall. Eighteen individuals lost their lives, and over 900 were displaced from their homes. The SMN initiated early alerts several days prior to the onset of rainfall. A yellow alert was issued two days prior, succeeded by an orange alert, signifying a critical emergency with conditions deemed hazardous to society, life, property, and the environment. This led the city’s mayor to suspend school, a critical decision as numerous residents stayed home just as floodwaters started to rise throughout much of the city. At that point, the alert escalated to the red level, designated for “exceptional weather events that can potentially cause disasters.” Community members and specialists commended the notification, which the SMN disseminated via its application and WhatsApp groups.
However, National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich expressed criticism that the red alert should have been issued sooner. A 2024 report from the World Meteorological Organization indicates that nations lacking robust multi-hazard early warning systems experience disaster-related mortality rates that are nearly six times greater than those with substantial to comprehensive systems. On April 27, Sturzenegger shared a message on X aiming to rationalize the 30% reduction in staff, which led ATE to declare a 24-hour national SMN strike on Thursday, although it was subsequently postponed. The minister’s arguments and data were promptly verified by Chequeado, a non-profit, non-partisan organization and digital media outlet focused on addressing disinformation. Sturzenegger indicated that the SMN manages approximately 100 meteorological stations across the country and has a workforce of around 1,000 individuals, with only about 20 holding the title of meteorologist. According to ATE-affiliated SMN workers, the agency employs 148 meteorologists and 472 meteorological observers who have completed a tertiary-level program. Meteorologist Mauricio Saldívar conveyed that Sturzenegger’s figures lack accuracy and ATE’s claims are somewhat inflated: “There aren’t just 20 meteorologists.” At the primary airports in the country, there are between 6 and 8 meteorologists, with a total of 8 such airports. At the SMN, the number exceeds 80. Carla Gulizia, president of the Argentine Center of Meteorologists, emphasized the critical role of observers, which include trained technicians adhering to WMO standards as well as professionals from various disciplines who enhance interdisciplinary analysis. The minister noted that the majority of stations have been in operation for over 50 years and “consist of just a couple of very simple instruments,” disregarding the technological updates implemented in 2019 and 2023, as highlighted by ATE and Chequeado. He stated that the funds conserved from salaries could be allocated to modernizing the stations “without the need for any personnel.”
Nonetheless, he recognized that “technological conversion cannot be done overnight” and emphasized the necessity for data series to overlap for a duration to guarantee accurate calibration. In a similar vein, the ATE contends that automatic stations do not serve as a substitute for personnel, but instead enhance their capabilities. “Stating that an automatic station substitutes for workers is technically inaccurate,” they cautioned. The union emphasized that these systems necessitate installation, maintenance, calibration, and ongoing monitoring; in the absence of these procedures, the data could be unreliable and impact forecasts. The insights provided by the World Meteorological Organization align with this perspective: although automation offers benefits, it also introduces challenges, notably the requirement for a greater number of specialized personnel for technical responsibilities, it cautions. The organization projects that automatic stations will need to function in conjunction with traditional systems for a period of “one to two years” to guarantee data comparability. An ATE delegate expressed that, “We cannot even imagine what would happen if SNM is left with only 150 people.” There is nothing comparable in the world. Data that is currently unmonitored is already being missed, which will have an impact on statistics. For instance, nighttime information influences flights, investigations, and weather forecasts.
In 2022, Celeste Saulo, the former director of the SMN and now the Secretary-General of the WMO, emphasized the necessity for Argentina to enhance its data-collection network significantly. She stated that this improvement requires “experts who continuously record and transmit basic information that is later used for forecasting” to ensure the production of higher-quality forecasts. “Today we have 125 data-collection points, and that is insufficient.” “Ideally, we should exceed 200,” she stated. ATE issued a firm statement in response to Sturzenegger’s message and indicated plans for a protest lasting 24 hours. “He is clearly not being truthful. “All the data and information used to try to justify the dismantling of the National Meteorological Service are false,” stated union leader Rodolfo Aguiar. Aguiar noted that insufficient funding and a lack of investment at the SMN have resulted in over half of the stations ceasing nighttime operations, creating gaps of 9 to 12 hours. “This government began the meteorological blackout on December 10, 2023,” he stated, referring to the day President Javier Milei assumed office, with commitments to drastically cut public spending in order to address Argentina’s enduring fiscal deficit. He noted that SMN is a “highly complex structure comprising meteorologists, observers, instrumentation technicians, IT and data-processing specialists, among others. Stations integrate automated systems alongside human observation, which continues to be essential globally,” he stated. “We insist on the ongoing employment of all SMN workers and seek to advance further.” For the government to effectively modernize the agency’s operations, it is essential to prioritize immediate investments in upgraded equipment, enhance wages, and restore all individuals who were unjustly dismissed. It is imperative that we maintain this essential service for our nation.