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.

President Donald Trump has named Neil Jacobs, a veteran of his first administration, to lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“Neil knows that America uses NOAA’s products every day,” said Craig McLean, a career civil servant who was the agency’s chief scientist during Mr. Trump’s first term. “His last tenure showed the limits of good will against political bullying.”

Neil Jacobs led NOAA on an acting basis for part of the president’s first term, including in September 2019 when Trump appeared to use a sharpie marker to incorrectly alter an official National Hurric

A meteorologist who caved to political pressure during Donald Trump's first administration to mislead the public about a hurricane forecast was nominated by the president Tuesday to head the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).