Trump Administration Announces Plan to Break Up Colorado’s National Center for Atmospheric Research

In a move that has stunned the scientific community, the Trump administration announced plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado. The announcement was made by Russ Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, who posted a statement on X on Tuesday.

The White House Statement

Vought wrote: “The National Science Foundation will be breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado,” linking to a story from USA Today. He added that “This facility is one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country. A comprehensive review is underway & any vital activities such as weather research will be moved to another entity or location.” The statement also warned that the move would be a major setback for climate research in the United States, at a time when global leaders emphasize the urgency of addressing climate change.

Response from NCAR’s Parent Organization

The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), which owns NCAR, released a statement saying it was aware of reports about a plan to shut down the center but had no information confirming the plan. Antonio Busalacchi, president of UCAR, said in the statement: “We look forward to working with the administration to continue our focus on safeguarding the safety and prosperity of our nation.”

White House Official’s Comments

When NBC News asked a senior White House official about the plan, the official criticized Colorado Governor Jared Polis. He said: “Maybe if Colorado had a governor who actually wanted to work with President Trump, his constituents would be better served.” The official described NCAR as “the premier research stronghold for left-wing climate lunacy” and added that breaking it up would “eliminate Green New Scam research activities.”

Governor Polis’s Response

Governor Polis issued a statement saying Colorado had not received any information from the administration about dismantling NCAR. He warned that if the plan were true, it would amount to an attack on science. Polis stated: “Climate change is real, but the work of NCAR goes far beyond climate science. NCAR delivers data around severe weather events like fires and floods that help our country save lives and property, and prevent devastation for families. If these cuts move forward we will lose our competitive advantage against foreign powers and adversaries in the pursuit of scientific discovery.”

Shock in the Climate and Weather Community

The announcement triggered immediate reactions from scientists. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, wrote on X that the plan would be a “terrible blow to American science, writ large.” He added that it would “decimate not only climate research, but also the kind of weather, wildfire, & disaster research underpinning half a century of progress in prediction, early warning, & increased resilience.” Swain further noted that “NCAR has played a greater cumulative role in advancing weather prediction & atmospheric modeling than perhaps any other single entity in the world.”

Katharine Hayhoe, an atmospheric scientist and chief scientist at The Nature Conservancy, said dismantling NCAR would be “like taking a sledgehammer to the keystone holding up our scientific understanding of the planet.” She wrote that “Nearly everyone who researches climate and weather — not only in the US, but around the world — has passed through its doors and benefited from its incredible resources.”

Andy Hazelton, an associate scientist at the University of Miami Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, called the move “extremely short-sighted.”

Congressional Reaction

Representative Joe Neguse, a Democrat from Colorado whose district includes the research facility, posted on X: “A deeply dangerous & blatantly retaliatory action by the Trump administration. NCAR is one of the most renowned scientific facilities in the WORLD — where scientists perform cutting‑edge research everyday. We will fight this reckless directive with every legal tool we have.”

Broader Context

The Trump administration has continued to slash budgets for groups such as the National Science Foundation. Some scientists warn that, in the absence of federal support, they may need to rely on private tour companies for research funding. Meanwhile, global research shows that 74% of Americans want leaders to do more to address climate change. Meteorologist Chase Cain has traveled to Antarctica to explore how ecotourism could help persuade climate skeptics and facilitate critical scientific research.

Key Takeaways

• The Trump administration plans to break up NCAR, a major federal climate research lab.
• The move is criticized by scientists, state officials, and Congress as a threat to climate and weather research.
• The plan follows a broader pattern of budget cuts to scientific agencies such as the National Science Foundation.

The announcement marks a significant shift in federal support for atmospheric science and raises concerns about the future of climate and weather research in the United States.