Iowans Want Elected Officials to Act on Rising Home Insurance Costs
DES MOINES, IA – New reporting by Politico details the costly and deadly consequences of compromised severe weather forecasting after the Trump administration’s assault on the National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), finding that the inaccurate forecasts have left Americans exposed. The risks in Iowa couldn’t be higher as homeowners face a crushing 28% annual increase in insurance premiums—pushing the average home policy to nearly $3,000 annually.
“The Trump administration’s assault on weather forecasting is a direct attack on Iowa families and businesses. The cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Weather Service are contributing to increased risks, costs, and the home insurance affordability crisis,” said Kyle Herrig, spokesperson for Unlocking America’s Future. “Iowa families are now paying the price twice: once through reduced protection from severe weather, and again through skyrocketing insurance premiums driven by the uncertainty these cuts create. Everyone should be asking why are Iowa politicians and candidates sitting idly by as this administration decimates critical weather forecasting infrastructure that helps save lives, keeps them safe, and reduces costs?”
The Trump administration abruptly terminated approximately 600 National Weather Service employees and the Republican-supported ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ slashed $150 million from NOAA’s weather forecasting and public alert programs, essentially gutting the nation’s capacity to forecast severe weather events. The administration has proposed cutting NOAA’s budget by another 27% for fiscal year 2026, including the practical elimination of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, which provides critical data for predicting tornadoes, floods, and severe storms that are becoming more frequent due to climate change.
These cuts create a pathway to higher risks and insurance costs for Iowa families. When federal forecasting capacity is reduced, insurance companies face greater uncertainty about weather-related risks. Unable to rely on accurate, timely predictions of severe weather events, insurers compensate by raising premiums across the board—passing the cost of federal policy failures directly to homeowners. Reduced early warning systems also mean more property damage when disasters strike, further driving up claims and premiums in a vicious cycle that punishes Iowa families for Washington’s recklessness.
Iowa is already experiencing one of the nation’s worst home insurance crises. Homeowners have seen premiums skyrocket 54% over just two years, with 2025 seeing third-highest increase in the nation. The average Iowa family now pays $2,802 annually for home insurance—money that could otherwise go toward groceries, childcare, or saving for the future. Instead, families are forced to absorb costs driven by both climate-related weather events and the federal government’s abandonment of its responsibility to provide accurate forecasting.
The political consequences are clear. According to recent SurveyUSA polling, 75% of Iowa, Kansas, and Nebreska homeowners are concerned about future insurance costs, and 67% place blame squarely on federal elected officials. A remarkable 86% of those polled demand government action to address the crisis. Families are now being forced to choose between protecting their homes and meeting other basic needs with one in four respondents reporting delaying a major purchase due to rising insurance costs, including 36% of parents with young children.
Congress has the power to reverse this damage and take action on the home insurance crisis to help reduce risks and costs. Lawmakers could reject the Trump administration’s latest proposed NWS and NOAA cuts, restore full funding to the National Weather Service, and reinstate the employees who were terminated. The connection between federal forecasting capacity and home insurance affordability is clear and direct. Accurate weather forecasts and early warnings help save lives, property, and insurance costs.
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