One agency that explains what the government actually does for you

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA ) has a staff of about 12,000 people, most of them scientists and engineers.

Umair Irfan , a climate change, energy policy, and science correspondent for Vox , has been focused on layoffs looming over the agency.

He and I discussed what the NOAA can tell us about the effect federal reductions have on everyday Americans .