(CNN) - The National Weather Service is reversing course and is now in the process of hiring back hundreds of its workers following massive cuts and a federal hiring freeze.

The NWS will hire 450 meteorologists, hydrologists and radar technicians.

An official with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the rehires will include 126 new positions that were previously approved and funded.

Those jobs are labeled as “front-line mission critical” to the agency.

Staff reductions were first carried out earlier this year by the Department of Government Efficiency.

More than 500 weather employees were let go or forced into retirement by the Trump administration.

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