Senators Britt and Cruz Demand Answers on NOAA System Failures and Delayed Aid Due to Commerce Department’s New Financial Program

Washington D.C. – U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), along with several Senate colleagues, have raised concerns over the Department of Commerce’s (DOC) new financial management system, which has disrupted vital services within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Senators sent a letter demanding answers regarding the implementation of the DOC’s Business Application Solution (BAS) program, a $341 million initiative designed to modernize financial and business management applications.

NOAA, the first agency to adopt the BAS system in October 2023, has experienced significant failures since its rollout. According to the Senators, the system has caused a backlog of unpaid invoices, resulting in delays in critical weather forecasts and alerts, including tornado warnings, and vital safety information for pilots and mariners. Additionally, fishery disaster aid has been delayed, with seven requests for disaster relief funds, particularly for salmon fisheries, going unfunded. The delays have hit small communities, such as St. Paul Island, Alaska, particularly hard, where the collapse of crab fisheries has led to severe economic impacts.

In their letter, the Senators noted, “Even a short-term interruption in vital weather information and alert systems is an unacceptable tradeoff for transitioning to a new financial management system.” They criticized the DOC for failing to address known issues, despite warnings from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) that called for better transition management and the implementation of best practices. The Senators expressed concern that further rollout of the BAS system without addressing these issues could lead to additional cost increases and broader disruptions.

The inquiry seeks clarity on the magnitude of the problems NOAA faces, the impact on U.S. citizens, and when these issues will be resolved. Joining Sens. Britt and Cruz in sending the letter are Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska).

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