President Trump is bringing back Neil Jacobs to lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a top agency for climate science. This move comes despite Jacobs’ controversial role in the infamous 2019 “Sharpiegate” scandal.

During his first term as NOAA’s acting head, Jacobs faced criticism after Trump falsely claimed Hurricane Dorian would hit Alabama. When a NOAA meteorologist corrected the claim on social media, Trump’s team pressured Jacobs to issue a statement supporting the president’s error. An investigation later found that Jacobs breached the agency’s ethical code in the process.

The incident earned its nickname after Trump displayed a map of Dorian’s path that had been altered with a Sharpie to include Alabama. Critics argue this undermined NOAA’s scientific integrity, making Jacobs’ reappointment a contentious decision.

“While Dr. Jacobs has the expertise, he’s shown he can’t protect NOAA’s scientific integrity,” said one expert from the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Despite the controversy, Jacobs is respected within NOAA, where climate research continued during Trump’s first term. However, there’s concern over whether NOAA’s role will face more challenges in Trump’s second term. A Republican blueprint for the administration has called for dismantling NOAA, labeling it part of the “climate change alarm industry.”

As Jacobs steps back into the spotlight, many are watching to see how he’ll navigate the agency through these turbulent times. “I wish him well in what I’m sure will be a difficult situation,” said a former NOAA chief scientist.

With NOAA at the center of climate research, Jacobs’ reappointment could have far-reaching implications for the agency’s future.