Officials from California and researchers nationwide are expressing grave concerns regarding the Trump administration’s proposed plan to dismantle a critical hub for weather, wildfire, and climate science: the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) based in Colorado. Russell Vought, who served as President Donald Trump’s director of the Office of Management and Budget, announced on the social media platform X that the National Science Foundation plans to “break up” this essential science institution, labeling it “one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country.” This controversial move coincides with rising tensions between Trump and Colorado Governor Jared Polis.
Scientists warn that dismantling this federally-funded science center poses significant risks not only to the hundreds of employees facing job losses in Colorado but also to the safety of Americans nationwide. “I’m alarmed. I’m worried. I’m upset. And I think we need to connect the dots between attacks on science and what it means to the safety of Americans,” stated Wade Crowfoot, California’s Natural Resources Secretary, in an interview with CalMatters.
In his social media announcement, Vought claimed that “any vital activities such as weather research will be moved to another entity or location.” However, experts emphasize that the fields of weather and climate science are interconnected, and cutting funds for vital climate research will compromise the integrity of weather science.
California is currently experiencing extreme weather, including looming atmospheric river storms and the anniversary of devastating climate-fueled wildfires in Los Angeles. State climatologist Michael Anderson highlighted the collaborative work between NCAR and California agencies aimed at improving precipitation predictions and snowpack modeling. He emphasized that losing the science center would “set the nation back in being able to respond to extreme weather events.”
The National Center for Atmospheric Research, often referred to as NCAR, is managed by a nonprofit consortium comprising 120 colleges and universities. It provides essential tools such as aircraft and supercomputers, alongside critical expertise and research necessary for understanding and predicting wildfire behavior, smoke exposure, storms, floods, and drought. These elements are vital for public safety and sectors like agriculture.
Jennifer Balch, a leading fire scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder, noted that “gutting NCAR is putting American lives and property at higher risk of fire, because we’re not going to have the information that we need in order to really understand it and address how fires are increasing in a warming world.” Balch voiced her concerns as high fire-risk weather in December forced a power shutoff in her Colorado neighborhood, highlighting the real-world impact of these potential cuts.
Craig Clements, chair of the Department of Meteorology and Climate Science at San José State University, raised alarms about the implications this dismantling would have on the future generation of scientists. He stated, “They get to have hands-on experience with state-of-the-art research, aircraft, facilities, and researchers.” Clements expressed shock at the proposal, asking, “Is this really going to happen? It’s going to devastate atmospheric science research worldwide — not just in California or the U.S. It is the leading atmospheric science institution in the world.”
Governor Gavin Newsom’s office characterized NCAR’s research as “life-saving” in a recent news release. They criticized Trump’s Budget Director, Russell Vought, describing him as “a right-wing absolute zealot” targeting the center to benefit Big Oil. “Despite what the Trump administration hopes, extreme weather does not take the day off,” the statement read.
Crowfoot reiterated that this dismantling is yet another example of the Trump administration attacking the scientific community that plays a crucial role in keeping Californians safe. He pointed to previous funding cuts to the California Nevada River Forecast Center, which are essential for California’s storm and flood response efforts. “Federal data and science and information is critical. What we’re experiencing across the country is this alarming adjustment to the loss of this information — and it’s happening on a weekly basis,” Crowfoot warned.