Scientists and Colorado officials fight Trump plan to dismantle NCAR climate and weather lab
The White House, via OMB Director Russ Vought, announced a plan to “dismantle” the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), saying only “vital” weather research would be moved elsewhere and accusing the lab of producing climate “alarmism” and “Green New Scam” research. Scientists and Colorado officials — including UCAR head Antonio Busalacchi and Gov. Jared Polis, plus Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and Rep. Joe Neguse — say the move was announced without notice, call it politically motivated and potentially dangerous for public safety, and critics say the administration did not clarify whether “breaking up” NCAR means outright closure.
📌 Key Facts
- OMB Director Russ Vought announced on X that the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) will be “dismantled,” calling it “one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country,” saying only “vital” weather research would be moved elsewhere, and the White House asserted NCAR’s activities “veer far from strong or useful science” and are being ended to “eliminate Green New Scam research activities”; the administration did not clarify whether “breaking up” NCAR means an outright closure.
- NCAR is described as a critical national center for climate and weather research and modeling, central to understanding the links between weather and climate.
- Antonio Busalacchi, head of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (which oversees NCAR), said he had no prior notice of the plan, called the decision “entirely political,” and emphasized that climate and weather cannot be understood separately.
- Colorado Gov. Jared Polis warned that carrying out the plan would put public safety at risk and characterized it as an attack on science.
- Sen. Michael Bennet, Sen. John Hickenlooper and Rep. Joe Neguse publicly suggested the proposed dismantling is retaliation for Colorado’s refusal to release former clerk Tina Peters, calling the move “deeply dangerous and blatantly retaliatory.”
- Scientists and Colorado officials are publicly pushing back against the plan, framing it as politically motivated and harmful to both scientific research and public safety.
📊 Relevant Data
Black and Hispanic adults in the US are significantly more likely to report that extreme weather events have negatively affected their physical health, mental health, or finances compared to White adults, with Black adults 18 points lower and Hispanic adults 13 points lower in agreement that they are not vulnerable.
Black, Hispanic Americans More Vulnerable to Extreme Weather — Gallup
Respondents in the highest extreme weather impact group in the US are more than 2.5 times as likely to identify as Black or Hispanic and 1.89 times more likely to live in households earning less than $50,000 per year.
Disparities in self-reported extreme weather impacts by race, ethnicity, and income in the United States — PLOS Climate
All racial/ethnic groups in the US were more likely to experience serious household physical health problems due to extreme weather events than non-Hispanic Whites, with adjusted odds ratios ranging from 1.20 for Asian/Pacific Islanders to 1.50 for Black individuals.
Racial and ethnic health inequities caused by extreme U.S. weather events from 2011 to 2020 — ScienceDirect
Hispanics/Latinos (69%) and African Americans (57%) in the US are more likely to be Alarmed or Concerned about global warming than Whites (43%).
Which racial/ethnic groups care most about climate change? — Yale Program on Climate Change Communication
The greatest absolute disparities in air pollution health burden in the US occur for Black and Asian populations from PM2.5 and ozone, and for the Asian population from NO2 and HAPs.
The health burden and racial-ethnic disparities of air pollution from anthropogenic emissions in the United States — Science Advances
NCAR contributes to weather forecasting models that have led to economic savings, such as through improved wildfire modeling and smoke movement forecasts, which inform utility shut-off decisions and help prevent fire spread.
Trump Plan to Dismantle US Research Agency Puts Weather and Climate Data Pipeline at Risk — ENR
NCAR employs more than 800 people and adds a $97 million impact to Boulder's economy every year.
Leaders worry about economic and scientific impact of potential NCAR move — KDVR
Between 2010 and 2020, Colorado's Hispanic population grew by 21.9%, comprising over 60% of the growth in the working-age population, contributing to the state's shift from a swing state to more liberal-leaning.
Forces Demographics: A Changing Colorado — The Bell Policy Center
Colorado's population growth has slowed, with net migration driving most increases, but the state added residents at a slower pace from 2020 to 2025 compared to the previous decade.
Data to Action: Using Demographics to Drive Aging Policy in Colorado — Colorado Center for Aging
📰 Sources (2)
- White House OMB Director Russ Vought announced on X that NCAR will be 'dismantled,' calling it 'one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country' and saying only 'vital' weather research would be moved elsewhere.
- Antonio Busalacchi, head of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, says he had no prior notice of the plan, calls the decision 'entirely political,' and stresses that climate and weather cannot be understood separately.
- Colorado Gov. Jared Polis warned that following through on the plan would put 'public safety at risk' and amount to an attack on science.
- Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and Rep. Joe Neguse publicly suggested the proposed dismantling is retaliation for Colorado’s refusal to release former clerk Tina Peters, calling the move 'deeply dangerous and blatantly retaliatory.'
- The White House issued a statement asserting that 'NCAR's activities veer far from strong or useful science' and that it is being dismantled 'to eliminate Green New Scam research activities,' but did not clarify whether 'breaking up' NCAR means outright closure.