Trump Administration Moves to Dismantle NCAR, Forecasters Alarmed

URGENT UPDATE: The Trump administration has announced plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado, raising alarms among atmospheric scientists and forecasters who warn this could leave them “flying blind.” The decision, revealed by Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought late Tuesday night, comes amid growing concerns over budget cuts affecting vital weather forecasting capabilities.

This shocking move threatens to disrupt critical research and operational functions at NCAR, which plays a pivotal role in advancing climate science and weather predictions. Vought labeled NCAR as “one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country” and stated that the National Science Foundation (NSF) would be “breaking up” the center.

With the dismantling set against a backdrop of earlier cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS), experts fear that the ability to predict severe weather events could be severely compromised. “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,” stated a public statement from the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), which manages NCAR.

The White House has criticized NCAR for its research initiatives, calling them examples of “left-wing climate lunacy.” Among these were programs focused on Indigenous Earth sciences and renewable energy studies, which the administration claims waste taxpayer dollars. A senior White House official suggested that the decision stems from the leadership of Democratic Colorado Governor Jared Polis, though no specific reasons were provided.

Experts are sounding the alarm about the potential fallout from this decision. Steve Decker, director of the Meteorology Undergraduate Program at Rutgers University, emphasized that breaking up NCAR could lead to a “substantial slowdown” in weather forecasting improvements. “This infrastructure is so fundamental that if the plug is pulled, we don’t know how blind everyone will be,” he warned.

The impacts of dismantling NCAR could be immediate and severe. According to Jeff Basara, atmospheric scientist and department chair at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, the center’s research has far-reaching implications for agencies like the NWS and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He highlighted NCAR’s recent work on severe weather events, including the devastating flash flood in Texas that resulted in over 100 deaths, many of whom were children.

NCAR’s vital functions, including weather modeling and data collection from weather stations and satellites, are crucial for timely forecasts and warnings. Basara explained that losing NCAR would disrupt critical research that informs operational agencies, ultimately putting lives at risk. “The operational folks need that information to provide timely warnings,” he stressed.

As the administration moves forward with this plan, atmospheric scientists and weather professionals are calling for immediate action to protect NCAR’s essential research capabilities. The future of weather forecasting hangs in the balance as experts urge the government to reconsider its approach.

The situation is developing, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available. The ramifications of this decision could reshape how the United States approaches weather forecasting and climate research, impacting countless lives across the nation.