US Plan to Break Up Leading Climate Research Center Sparks Backlash

The Trump administration is moving to dismantle one of the world’s leading climate research institutions, citing concerns over what it describes as “climate alarmism,” a decision that has drawn strong criticism from scientists and state officials.

The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), founded in 1960 as a federally funded research and education hub in Boulder, Colorado, is set to be broken up, according to the White House Office of Management and Budget. Any operations deemed “vital” would be transferred to other entities or locations, officials said.

The administration argued that the center has been a major source of what it views as exaggerated climate warnings. Plans to dismantle the institution are expected to begin immediately, with its Mesa Laboratory facing full closure under the proposal.

Senior scientists warned that the move would deal a serious blow to climate and atmospheric research. A distinguished NCAR scholar said breaking up the center would result in a significant loss of scientific capacity, noting its long-standing role in advancing understanding of weather patterns, climate systems and extreme events.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis said he had not been briefed on the plans but stressed that NCAR provides critical data on severe weather that helps protect lives and property. He warned that dismantling the center could undermine public safety and weaken the country’s scientific edge.

“If these changes go ahead, science is being attacked and our ability to compete globally in research and innovation will suffer,” Polis said.

The move aligns with President Donald Trump’s broader effort in his second term to roll back clean energy and climate initiatives introduced under the previous administration. Trump has repeatedly dismissed climate change as a hoax and has questioned the scientific consensus on global warming in both domestic and international forums.