Trump targets major Colorado climate research center for shutdown

The Trump Administration's Plan to Dismantle a Major Climate Research Center

The Trump administration has announced plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado, a facility that has long been recognized as one of the world’s leading institutions for climate and atmospheric research. According to a senior White House official, the move targets what the administration calls "federal climate alarmism," a term used to describe the center’s focus on climate change and environmental science.

Established in 1960, NCAR was originally founded to conduct research in atmospheric chemistry and physical meteorology. However, over the years, it has expanded its scope to include climate modeling, weather prediction, and other critical areas of Earth system sciences. The administration argues that this expansion has led to what it sees as an overemphasis on climate-related research, which it claims is not aligned with the center’s original mission.

The plan involves a comprehensive review of the center’s activities, with the goal of eliminating what the White House refers to as "green new scam research activities." While some "vital functions" such as weather modeling and supercomputing will be moved to other entities or locations, the full closure of the Mesa Laboratory in Boulder is expected to begin immediately.

Russ Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, stated in a public statement that NCAR is one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country. He emphasized that the restructuring would ensure the center returns to its original focus. This decision comes amid broader efforts by the Trump administration to cut funding for federal climate-related programs, including significant reductions at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Impact on Staff and Programs

NCAR employs approximately 830 people who are part of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), a nonprofit consortium of more than 130 colleges and universities. The exact number of jobs and programs that could be affected by the dismantling remains unclear. The National Science Foundation (NSF), an independent federal agency, contracts UCAR to manage the center. In the 2025 fiscal year, the NSF provided $123 million to NCAR, accounting for about half of the center’s budget.

In addition to the Mesa Laboratory, NCAR operates two aircraft for atmospheric research and manages a federally owned supercomputing center in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The White House has criticized several initiatives within UCAR, including the Rising Voices Center for Indigenous and Earth Sciences, an art series focused on water, and research into wind turbines. These programs, according to the administration, are seen as wasteful and frivolous.

Reactions from Scientists and Leaders

Scientists and researchers have expressed concern over the potential impact of the dismantling. James Franklin, a retired chief of the branch of hurricane specialists at NOAA’s National Hurricane Center, noted that GPS dropsondes—tools used to gather data from hurricanes—were developed at NCAR. These tools have revolutionized the understanding of tropical cyclones and improved forecasts.

Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, highlighted the center’s contributions to severe weather warnings and economic impact studies. Roger Pielke Jr., a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, called NCAR a "crown jewel of the U.S. scientific enterprise" and warned against making decisions based on political considerations.

Political and Scientific Concerns

Colorado Governor Jared Polis, a Democrat, has criticized the move, stating that it puts public safety at risk and attacks science. He emphasized that NCAR’s work extends beyond climate science, providing critical data for severe weather events like fires and floods. Polis also warned that the cuts could undermine the state’s competitive advantage in scientific discovery.

The decision to dismantle NCAR comes alongside the cancellation of $109 million in environmentally focused transportation grants in Colorado, which aimed to support electric vehicles, rail improvements, and research into hydrogen and natural gas-powered trains.