Trump moves to close Colorado’s federal climate research lab

The Trump administration plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, the largest federal climate research lab.

“The National Science Foundation will be breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado,” Russ Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, said on social media. “This facility is one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country. A comprehensive review is underway & any vital activities such as weather research will be moved to another entity or location.”

Mr. Vought’s announcement linked to a story from USA Today, which was the first to report on the administration’s effort.

The federally funded institution was established in 1960 for atmospheric chemistry and physical meteorology research.

The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, the lab’s parent organization, said in a statement Tuesday that it was aware of reports about a plan but has no additional information.

“NSF NCAR’s research is crucial for building American prosperity by protecting lives and property, supporting the economy, and strengthening national security,” Antonio Busalacchi, the agency’s president, said in the statement. “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.”

The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research has roughly 830 employees.

The White House’s reasoning includes the agency’s “woke direction,” USA Today reported, flagging several programs, such as the Rising Voices Center for Indigenous and Earth Sciences and wind turbine research.

The National Science Foundation, an independent federal agency, contracts with more than 130 colleges and universities. It supplied the National Center for Atmospheric Research $123 million — more than half the lab’s budget.

Previously, the foundation announced plans to cut the research lab’s budget by 40%.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said Tuesday that Colorado has yet to receive information about the plans to dismantle the “global leader in earth systems scientific research.”

Such plans would put public safety at risk and amount to an attack on science, the Democrat said in a statement.

“Climate change is real, but the work of NCAR goes far beyond climate science,” Mr. Polis said. “NCAR delivers data around severe weather events like fires and floods that help our country save lives and property, and prevent devastation for families. If these cuts move forward, we will lose our competitive advantage against foreign powers and adversaries in the pursuit of scientific discovery.”

Multiple Democratic members of Congress who hail from Colorado touted the “deeply dangerous — and blatantly retaliatory action against Colorado — by the Trump administration.”

The research lab and its employees “are leading the nation’s climate science research, delivering life-saving breakthroughs that provide early warnings for natural disasters and deepen our understanding of Earth’s systems,” Rep. Joe Neguse and Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper said in a joint statement.

Federal efforts to dissolve the research lab will begin immediately, White House officials told USA Today.

“We look forward to working with the administration to continue our focus on safeguarding the safety and prosperity of our nation,” Mr. Busalacchi said.