Trump Administration Targets National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado for Restructuring
The Trump administration is planning to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Colorado, a renowned climate research institution. Established in 1960, the NCAR has been targeted by the administration for what it perceives as promoting "federal climate alarmism." The restructuring aims to refocus the center's activities, with weather modeling and supercomputing functions set to be relocated to another entity or location.
The White House has announced its intention to break up the NCAR, with plans to close its Mesa Laboratory in Boulder, Colorado. This move follows President Trump's proposed cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), including the elimination of key research offices and laboratories. The NCAR, which is part of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), employs around 830 staff members and receives significant funding from the National Science Foundation.
The NCAR operates aircraft for atmospheric research and manages a supercomputing center in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The White House has criticized UCAR's initiatives, labeling them as wasteful and frivolous. These include programs focused on Indigenous and Earth sciences, art projects related to water, and research on wind turbines. Despite scientific consensus on climate change, President Trump has repeatedly dismissed it as a hoax, while 2024 recorded record-high temperatures globally.
In addition to targeting the NCAR, the Trump administration recently canceled environmentally focused transportation grants in Colorado. This decision was accompanied by criticism of Colorado Governor Jared Polis over the imprisonment of Tina Peters, a former county clerk involved in baseless election denial conspiracies. Trump's confrontational stance towards Governor Polis reflects ongoing political tensions in the state.