> While the “ceiling” for the total number of positions is 4,890 per the National Weather Service Table of Organization, the official said the number of positions is 4,453 people under the 2017 fiscal year appropriations act. “We believe this level is adequate to achieve National Weather Service core functions,” the official said.

I would've recommended starting with this quote, then, if that's the point you were trying to make.

But still, "adequate to achieve core functions" isn't the same as "just fine".