Trump Administration Targets National Center for Atmospheric Research in Climate Policy Shift
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The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado, a move signaling a sharp departure from decades of federally funded climate research and a renewed focus on what officials deem the institution’s “climate alarmism.”
The decision, revealed on December 16, 2025, comes as the administration continues to reshape environmental policy and prioritize a narrower definition of scientific research. A senior official stated the administration plans an immediate review to eliminate what it calls “green new scam research activities,” while preserving functions like weather modeling and supercomputing – potentially relocating them elsewhere.
A History of Atmospheric Research Under Scrutiny
Established in 1960, NCAR has long been a leading hub for research in atmospheric chemistry and physical meteorology. However, Trump officials now view the institution as a center for promoting a climate change agenda they reject. “This facility is one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country,” Russ Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, said in a statement.
The administration’s plan involves breaking up NCAR, managed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), a consortium of over 130 colleges and universities. Efforts will begin with the closure of the Mesa Laboratory in Boulder. This action follows previous attempts to significantly cut funding to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including proposals to eliminate its Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and associated laboratories.
Impact on Research and Workforce
NCAR employs approximately 830 individuals, and the dismantling process raises concerns about potential job losses and program disruptions. The National Science Foundation (NSF), which provides roughly half of NCAR’s $123 million annual budget (as of the 2025 fiscal year), contracts with UCAR to manage the center. The future of these funds and the research they support remains uncertain.
Beyond the Mesa Laboratory, NCAR operates two atmospheric research aircraft and a federally owned supercomputing center in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The fate of these assets is also under review.
“Woke Direction” and Targeted Programs
The White House has specifically criticized certain NCAR initiatives, labeling them as wasteful and frivolous and pointing to what they describe as “UCAR’s woke direction.” Targeted programs include the Rising Voices Center for Indigenous and Earth Sciences, which aims to promote inclusivity in the sciences; an art series exploring humanity’s relationship with water; and research focused on improving the understanding of wind turbine performance in changing climate conditions.
These criticisms reflect President Trump’s consistent dismissal of climate change as a “hoax” or “con job,” despite overwhelming scientific consensus to the contrary. Data from NOAA and NASA confirm that 2024 was the hottest year on record, with unprecedented ocean temperatures.
Colorado Officials Express Concern
The planned dismantling of NCAR has drawn criticism from Colorado Governor Jared Polis, who warned of potential risks to public safety and scientific advancement. “If true, public safety is at risk and science is being attacked,” Polis stated. “NCAR delivers data around severe weather events like fires and floods that help our country save lives and property.” He also cautioned that the cuts could jeopardize Colorado’s competitive edge in scientific discovery.
The move comes alongside the cancellation of $109 million in environmentally focused transportation grants within the state, further highlighting the administration’s shift in priorities.
Scientific Community Reacts
Experts within the scientific community have voiced concerns about the potential consequences of dismantling NCAR. James Franklin, a retired chief of the branch of hurricane specialists at NOAA’s National Hurricane Center, emphasized the center’s pivotal role in developing GPS dropsondes – tools that “revolutionized” the understanding of tropical cyclone structure and improved forecasting.
Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California and a research partner with NCAR, noted the center’s contributions to severe weather warnings and economic impact assessments. Even Roger Pielke Jr., a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute who has been critical of climate alarmism, acknowledged NCAR as “a crown jewel of the U.S. scientific enterprise” that deserves improvement, not closure. “If the U.S. is going to be a global leader in the atmospheric sciences, then it cannot afford to make petty and vindictive decisions based on the hot politics of climate change,” he said on December 15.
The administration’s actions represent a significant challenge to the future of atmospheric research in the United States and raise questions about the role of science in policymaking.
