[7] In 2017, Jacobs was nominated to serve as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction and was confirmed on February 15, 2018.

[8] When Timothy Gallaudet, the acting NOAA Administrator asked to be allowed to focus on his Senate-confirmed position as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere in February 2018, Jacobs became the Acting NOAA Administrator and late the next year he was nominated to take on the role permanently when Barry Myers withdrew from consideration for health reasons.

After receiving several inquiries from residents, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a statement that Dorian would not reach Alabama.

In an Oval Office briefing with reporters, Trump displayed a map including the altered projection that Dorian would make landfall in Alabama.

On September 6, NOAA released a statement in support of Trump's claim, including Alabama in the list of states that Dorian was expected to reach.