Vought says National Science Foundation to break up federal climate, weather research center

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The National Science Foundation will “break up” a climate and weather research lab in Colorado, according to White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought.

The Foundation, an independent agency, will break up the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Vought said in a post on the social platform X, calling it a source of “climate alarmism.”

“The National Science Foundation will be breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado,” Vought said.

“This facility is one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country,” he added. “A comprehensive review is underway & any vital activities such as weather research will be moved to another entity or location.”

The Hill has reached out to the National Science Foundation (NSF) for comment.

Antonio Busalacchi, president of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), which manages NCAR, said in a statement: “We are aware of reports that the Trump administration is proposing to break up the U.S. National Science Foundation National Center for Atmospheric Research. … We do not have additional information about any such plan.”

Busalacchi added that the center’s research “is crucial for building American prosperity by protecting lives and property, supporting the economy, and strengthening national security. Any plans to dismantle NSF NCAR would set back our nation’s ability to predict, prepare for, and respond to severe weather and other natural disasters.”

NCAR’s research includes climate science. It also seeks to predict severe weather, model flooding, forecast air quality and look into how the sun’s behavior impacts life on Earth.

It also provides tools not just used by government research, but also outside scientists. According to its website, NCAR’s scientists collaborate with those in academia, government and the private sector. This includes the use of open-source models.

The Trump administration has sought to downplay climate change and its impacts, despite the scientific fact that human-caused warming is worsening extreme weather.

It has sought to axe climate research funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and has proposed to repeal a finding at the Environmental Protection Agency that climate change is a threat to the public.

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