Key Points
- Trump administration plans to break up NCAR, a leading U.S. climate research centre
- Decision contrasts with global investment surge in climate science and technology
- Experts warn that dismantling may weaken forecasting, disaster preparedness, and international collaboration
- Officials cite reducing “climate alarmism” and reprioritising federal research
WASHINGTON: The Trump administration has announced plans to dismantle the National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado, a premier institution in climate and atmospheric research.
The decision comes at a time when the world is accelerating investment in climate science, technology, and human capital to respond to the escalating global warming, extreme weather, and related disasters.
Russell Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, said the National Science Foundation would be breaking up NCAR, describing it as “one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country.” The administration has framed the move as a reorganisation of research priorities, though details about the relocation of core climate modelling and forecasting functions remain unclear, according to Washignton Post.
NCAR, established in 1960 and supported by the National Science Foundation, hosts supercomputers, advanced research aircraft, and datasets that underpin global climate models and weather forecasting. Its research informs planning for floods, heatwaves, cyclones, and other extreme events, helping governments and communities worldwide prepare for and mitigate disasters.
Scientific leaders reacted swiftly. Kevin Trenberth, a distinguished scholar associated with NCAR, warned that dismantling the centre would “severely hinder scientific progress and public safety forecasting.” Colorado Governor Jared Polis said, “If true, public safety is at risk and science is being attacked,” stressing that NCAR’s work protects lives and property.
Antonio Busalacchi, president of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, which oversees NCAR, said he was aware of reports about the plan but had “no additional information about any such plan.” He emphasised that NCAR’s research “is crucial for building American prosperity by protecting lives and property, supporting the economy, and strengthening national security,” according to news.ucar.edu.
Experts say the decision contrasts sharply with the global trend. While the United States proposes to dismantle a key climate centre, nations worldwide are increasing funding, sharing technology, and expanding human capital to tackle climate change. Analysts suggest the Trump administration’s motivation stems from a desire to scale back federal climate science and reduce regulations, framing climate research as politically motivated alarmism rather than a tool for public safety and global cooperation.
The move also follows the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, signalling a shift in policy towards short-term economic priorities over long-term climate preparedness. Scientific communities warn that dismantling or fragmenting NCAR risks eroding global climate forecasting capabilities and weakening international collaboration on urgent climate challenges.
