President Donald Trump is set to have atmospheric scientist Neil Jacobs lead the NOAA for a second stint after working with him from 2019 to 2021. In 2019, he served as its acting administrator until Trump left office at the end of his term in January 2021.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has nominated Neil Jacobs to lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, turning to the man who was his acting NOAA chief in 2019 when Trump altered an expected hurricane impact map in what became known as the “Sharpiegate” scandal.

The Trump administration has tapped Neil Jacobs, a scientist cited for misconduct related to the “Sharpiegate” hurricane forecasting controversy, to lead the agency that oversees US government weather predictions and climate research.