Trump Management Targets Leading Climate Research Center, Sparking Scientific Outcry
The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the national Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in boulder, Colorado, a move experts warn will significantly undermine U.S.scientific competitiveness and leave communities increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events. The surprise declaration,made Tuesday evening by Russell Vought,director of the White house’s Office of Management and Budget,via a post on X (formerly Twitter),has sent shockwaves through the scientific community.
The decision signals a further escalation in the administration’s efforts to downplay and disrupt climate science. Vought characterized the federally funded research center as “one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country,” stating that a “thorough review is underway & any vital activities such as weather research will be moved to another entity or location.”
A Cornerstone of Climate and Weather prediction
NCAR’s work is integral to a vast range of applications,from government policy and university research to emergency preparedness and private sector forecasting.The center’s sophisticated Community earth System Model (CESM) serves as a foundation for international climate assessments and informs much of U.S. climate policy. With approximately 830 staff, NCAR represents one of the world’s largest and most respected consortia of scientists dedicated to studying weather, climate, and Earth systems using advanced modeling and supercomputing capabilities.
“The Trump administration has put a bull’s-eye on one of the United States’ premier weather and climate research and modeling centers, threatening to destroy decades of public investment,” said Carlos Martinez, a former NCAR researcher and now a senior climate scientist at the union of Concerned scientists. “Deliberately dismantling an institution so central to weather forecasting and climate change prediction would not only undermine scientific research, it would leave people across the nation less prepared for the dangers of a warming
climate.”
In California, such as, universities and state agencies rely on NCAR data for air pollution monitoring, water management, emergency planning, and wildfire risk assessment. The private sector also benefits significantly, with industries like aviation, energy, and weather forecasting utilizing NCAR’s data and tools, including BoltAlert for lightning prediction and the Maintenance Decision Support System for road condition alerts.
The $700-billion reinsurance industry also heavily relies on NCAR’s data and climate models to develop financial instruments like catastrophe bonds, which are tied to weather and disaster risks. swissre, a leading reinsurance company, specifically credits NCAR’s work in the development of its proprietary forecasting tool, CatNet.
Broader Pattern of Scientific Disregard
this decision follows a pattern of the Trump administration’s efforts to curtail scientific research and reshape public perception of climate change. These actions include staff reductions at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), funding cuts to scientific research, and the dismissal of scientists preparing the congressionally mandated National Climate Assessment, as well as the removal of previous assessments from public access.
Colorado Governor Jared polis expressed surprise at the announcement, stating, “If true, public safety is at risk and science is being attacked.” He emphasized that NCAR’s contributions extend beyond climate science, providing crucial data for managing severe weather events and protecting lives and property.
“Woke” Programs and Renewable Energy Opposition
When pressed for justification, White House officials cited so-called “woke” programs at NCAR as wasteful and unscientific. These included the Rising voices Center, which integrates Indigenous knowledge with Earth science, and an art series exploring the human relationship with water. Officials also criticized the center’s research into wind turbines, citing President Trump’s well-known opposition to offshore wind and other renewable energy sources.
The dismantling of NCAR represents a significant blow to U.S. scientific leadership and a potentially hazardous step backward in preparing for the escalating challenges of a changing climate.
