The Trump administration has announced plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), the United States’ largest federally funded climate and weather research institution — a move that has triggered strong backlash from scientists, lawmakers, and climate experts worldwide.
The announcement was made Tuesday by Russell Vought, Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, who said the National Science Foundation (NSF) would begin breaking up the Boulder, Colorado–based research center.
“The National Science Foundation will be breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research,” Vought wrote on X. “This facility is one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country. A comprehensive review is underway, and any vital activities such as weather research will be moved to another entity or location.”
The proposal, first reported by USA Today, represents one of the most aggressive actions taken so far by the Trump administration against federal climate science infrastructure. NCAR has played a foundational role in advancing global understanding of weather systems, climate change, wildfires, droughts, floods, and atmospheric modeling for more than six decades.
Scientific Community Warns of Severe Consequences
Founded in 1960, NCAR operates under the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) and is funded by the NSF. Its work underpins modern weather forecasting, disaster prediction, and long-term climate modeling used not only in the U.S., but by governments and institutions worldwide.
In response to the announcement, Antonio Busalacchi, president of UCAR, said the organization had not yet received official details regarding the plan.
“We are aware of reports regarding potential changes to NCAR,” Busalacchi said. “We look forward to working with the administration to continue our focus on safeguarding the safety and prosperity of our nation.”
Climate scientists, however, warned that dismantling NCAR could set U.S. research back decades.
Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, called the move “a devastating blow to American science.”
“It would decimate not only climate research, but also the weather, wildfire, and disaster research underpinning half a century of progress in prediction, early warning, and resilience,” Swain said.
Katharine Hayhoe, chief scientist at The Nature Conservancy, likened the move to destroying a scientific cornerstone.
“Dismantling NCAR is like taking a sledgehammer to the keystone holding up our scientific understanding of the planet,” Hayhoe said, noting that generations of scientists globally have relied on NCAR’s models and data.
Political Fallout and State-Level Opposition
A senior White House official defended the move by criticizing Colorado Governor Jared Polis, suggesting cooperation with the administration could have prevented the decision. The official described NCAR as a hub of what they called “left-wing climate lunacy” and said the breakup would eliminate what they labeled “Green New Scam research.”
Governor Polis responded sharply, warning that the plan, if carried out, would jeopardize public safety and national competitiveness.
“Climate change is real, but NCAR’s work goes far beyond climate science,” Polis said. “NCAR delivers life-saving data on wildfires, floods, and severe storms. Undermining this work would cost lives and weaken America’s scientific leadership.”
Democratic lawmakers from Colorado vowed legal action. Representative Joe Neguse, whose district includes NCAR, called the move retaliatory and dangerous.
“NCAR is one of the most renowned scientific facilities in the world,” Neguse said. “We will fight this reckless directive using every legal tool available.”
A Pattern of Climate Science Rollbacks
The proposed dismantling of NCAR aligns with the Trump administration’s broader effort to reduce climate research funding and halt clean energy initiatives. President Trump has repeatedly dismissed climate change as a “hoax,” despite overwhelming scientific consensus and mounting evidence of accelerating global warming.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the 10 hottest years on record since 1850 have all occurred in the past decade, with 2024 surpassing the previous record set in 2023.
NCAR scientists have contributed to landmark research, including the first Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment in 1990. The IPCC later received the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, highlighting the global significance of climate science built on NCAR’s work.
Global Implications
Experts warn that weakening NCAR would not only affect U.S. forecasting and disaster preparedness but also disrupt international climate research collaboration.
“NCAR has played a greater cumulative role in advancing atmospheric modeling than almost any other institution globally,” Swain said.
As climate-driven disasters intensify worldwide, critics argue that dismantling NCAR could leave the U.S. less prepared for floods, fires, heatwaves, and extreme storms — precisely when scientific insight is most needed.
