The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado—one of the world’s most influential hubs for climate, weather, and wildfire science—is now at the center of a political and scientific storm.
The Trump administration has announced plans to dismantle NCAR, triggering urgent warnings from researchers, universities, and state leaders who say the move will undermine public safety, damage U.S. scientific leadership, and disrupt critical forecasting capabilities for decades.
A Landmark Institution in Atmospheric Science Under Threat
Founded in 1960, NCAR has become a cornerstone of modern atmospheric research.
Backed primarily by the National Science Foundation (NSF), it enables universities, agencies, and emergency managers to understand and respond to the complex dynamics of Earth’s atmosphere.
White House budget director Russell Vought announced on X that NCAR would be eliminated as part of a broader drive to shrink government and curb what he termed “climate alarmism.”
The decision followed the cancellation of $109 million in federal environmental and safety grants to Colorado and came on the heels of President Trump’s public attack on Colorado’s Democratic Governor Jared Polis.
No Notice, Major Consequences
According to scientists and administrators, the announcement arrived with no prior consultation or transition plan.
For a facility that supports thousands of users and dozens of operational systems, this kind of abrupt change is not merely disruptive—it is potentially catastrophic for ongoing research and forecasting.
Researchers warn that dismantling NCAR would have impacts measured not in months, but in decades.
The loss of its expertise, infrastructure, and long-term data records would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to fully rebuild.
What NCAR Actually Does—and Why It Matters
NCAR is not a niche research center; it is a national backbone for atmospheric science in North America.
It provides resources and tools that no single university or state agency could realistically support on its own.
NCAR supports 129 North American universities by providing shared infrastructure essential for both research and operations.
Key Capabilities at Risk
Among NCAR’s most critical contributions are:
Many of the forecasts that emergency managers and the public take for granted—such as hurricane intensification timelines, wildfire spread projections, and severe storm outlooks—are built on models and data developed or maintained at NCAR.
Weather vs. Climate: A False Divide
The administration has suggested that it is possible to separate “weather” from “climate” and that cutting climate-related research will not harm essential weather services.
From a scientific standpoint, this claim is untenable.
Weather and climate are inseparable aspects of the same atmospheric system.
Weather describes conditions over hours to days; climate describes long-term patterns and statistics. But both rely on the same physics, the same observations, and often the same models.
Why the Distinction Doesn’t Work
For example, improving hurricane forecasts requires understanding how oceans and the atmosphere interact under changing climate conditions.
Similarly, wildfire prediction is now deeply intertwined with climate-driven changes in fuel moisture, heat extremes, and seasonal shifts.
Attempting to fund “weather only” research while discarding “climate” programs is not just arbitrary—it directly impairs the science needed to make weather forecasts more accurate and reliable.
Real-Time Stakes: Wildfire Risk in Colorado
The timing of the announcement underscores what is at risk.
As the plan to dismantle NCAR was made public, Boulder and much of Colorado were facing extreme wildfire risk.
NCAR’s tools and forecasts are actively used to anticipate wildfire spread, guide evacuations, and protect firefighters on the ground.
Eliminating these capabilities during an era of intensifying wildfire seasons, heatwaves, and extreme storms leaves communities more exposed to rapidly evolving hazards.
Economic and Political Flashpoint
Governor Jared Polis and Colorado lawmakers have condemned the move as both retaliatory and dangerous.
They argue that dismantling NCAR is not a neutral budget decision but a politically motivated action with profound implications for public safety and the state’s economy.
Federally funded laboratories in and around Boulder, including NCAR, contribute an estimated $2.6 billion annually to Colorado’s economy.
The loss of NCAR would ripple through the regional workforce, university partnerships, and the broader innovation ecosystem.
Looking Ahead: The Cost of Dismantling Science
From the perspective of atmospheric science, the proposed dismantling of NCAR is more than an institutional change. It is a deliberate weakening of the nation’s ability to understand and manage environmental risk.
We stand at a time when society needs more robust climate and weather intelligence—not less.
The tools NCAR provides save lives and protect infrastructure. They inform critical decisions across sectors from agriculture and energy to transportation and defense.
Here is the source article for this story: The Real Reason Trump Is Dismantling the Research Center That Helps Keeps You Safe From Extreme Weather