National Weather Service halts translations, endangering non-English speakers
- The National Weather Service has paused translations for its weather products, impacting communication with non-English speakers.
- This decision follows the cessation of a contract with the AI company Lilt, which provided translations since late 2023.
- Experts warn that this change may endanger lives, as the lack of access to vital weather information can result in dire consequences during emergencies.
In early 2025, the National Weather Service (NWS) in the United States decided to stop providing translations for its weather products in multiple languages including Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, French, and Samoan. This significant change has emerged due to the lapse of a contract with Lilt, an artificial intelligence company that had been facilitating these translations since late 2023. NWS spokesperson Michael Musher confirmed that the translations were put on hold, indicating potential risks for the approximately 68 million residents in the country who speak a language other than English at home. The decision reflects broader budget cuts initiated by the Trump administration, which aimed to reduce expenditures within federal agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that oversees the NWS.