Trump Administration Plans to Break Up Colorado’s Climate Research Lab, NCAR

In a move that could cripple U.S. climate science, the Trump administration announced Tuesday it intends to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado.

The Announcement

Russ Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, posted a statement on X. He wrote, “The National Science Foundation will be breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado,” and linked to a story from USA Today, the first outlet to report on the effort. Vought added that the facility is “one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country” and that a comprehensive review is underway. He said any vital activities such as weather research would be moved to another entity or location.

The plan would be a major setback for climate research in the United States, at a moment when the United Nations and other world leaders have said time is running out to prevent the most devastating effects of global warming.

UCAR’s Response

The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, NCAR’s parent organization, released a statement on Tuesday acknowledging the reports but stating it had no information about the plan. Antonio Busalacchi, president of UCAR, said, “We look forward to working with the administration to continue our focus on safeguarding the safety and prosperity of our nation.”

Political Backlash

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

Polis released a statement the same day 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. “Climate change is real, but the work of NCAR goes far beyond climate science,” Polis said. “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.”

Scientific Community Reacts

The announcement shocked many in the climate and weather community. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, posted on X that it would be a “terrible blow to American science, writ large.” He added that the move 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,” and that the reverberations would extend throughout the global weather and climate community. Swain 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 added, “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.”

Rep. Joe Neguse, D‑Colo., whose district includes the facility, wrote 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 Implications

As the Trump administration continues to slash budgets for groups like the National Science Foundation, scientists may increasingly need to rely on private tour companies for their research. In contrast, global research shows 74% of Americans want leaders to do more to address climate change. Meteorologist Chase Cain traveled to Antarctica to explore how ecotourism could help persuade climate skeptics and facilitate critical scientific research.

Key Takeaways

• The Trump administration plans to dismantle NCAR, a major U.S. climate research lab.
• UCAR acknowledges the reports but claims no confirmation.
• Politicians and scientists across the spectrum condemn the move, citing threats to scientific progress and national security.

The announcement marks a significant escalation in the administration’s approach to climate science, raising questions about the future of U.S. research capabilities and international collaboration.