The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced on X that the National Weather Service has upgraded 33 additional weather radio sites to wireless, generating monthly cost savings and completing networking kit production for all LTE-compatible sites.
According to Federal Newswire, DOGE continues to oversee the modernization of NOAA Weather Radio systems, a legacy alert network that broadcasts emergency messages to the public. This initiative replaces aging copper telephone lines with LTE wireless connectivity, a shift that improves network reliability, reduces outage frequency, and ensures faster system recovery during emergencies. The modernization effort is part of a broader federal mandate to reduce dependency on outdated analog infrastructure and increase the responsiveness of emergency communication systems.
As reported by Federal Newswire, the latest round of upgrades—33 additional sites—brings the total number of LTE-upgraded sites to roughly 750 across the United States. This shift away from leased copper lines to wireless broadband results in an estimated cost saving of $114,000 per month, reducing the financial burden on federal agencies. These savings are part of a larger cost-efficiency push, with DOGE reporting that similar upgrades have generated cumulative monthly savings exceeding $1 million since the start of the program.
According to a follow-up report by Federal Newswire, the National Weather Service has completed the production of networking kits for all LTE-compatible sites nationwide. This milestone enables the remaining 274 sites to complete their transitions in the coming weeks, maintaining a consistent upgrade tempo of approximately 50 sites per week. The Department indicated that these deployments are prioritized based on geographic vulnerability, signal coverage gaps, and population density in areas served by NOAA Weather Radio.
DOGE is a federal agency focused on optimizing government spending, reducing waste, and ensuring accountability in contract management, according to X. By reviewing expenditures and canceling non-essential contracts, DOGE aims to improve fiscal responsibility and enhance the effectiveness of public resource allocation.
