A figure in the “Sharpiegate” controversy during the first Trump Administration is now the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Neil Jacobs, who was tapped for the post in February, was confirmed by the Senate Tuesday evening in a bloc of nominees, 51-46, according to The New York Times.
Jacobs was the acting director of the agency from February 2019 through the end of Trump’s first term.
During that time, President Donald Trump used a Sharpie marker to alter an official National Hurricane Center map to suggest that Hurricane Dorian would hit Alabama and parts of Florida outside its predicted path.
Jacobs was found to have violated NOAA’s code of ethics during an investigation, which determined he had bowed to political pressure in releasing a statement criticizing Alabama forecasters, after they stated on social media that Dorian was not expected to impact the state.
Jacobs later told a conference of scientists that “weather should not be a partisan issue.” During a July confirmation hearing this year, he told senators he would not handle such a situation the same way again.
Among other duties, NOAA conducts monitoring and forecasting Earth’s climate and weather, and managing and conserving fisheries.
Jacobs this year also told senators he stands by administration proposals to dismantle NOAA’s climate science apparatus, though he personally feels human activity is in some ways contributing to warming over the planet.