On Tuesday, Russell Vought, the head of the Office of Management and Budget, announced that the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) will be dismantled. NCAR plays a crucial role in research related to weather, climate, and atmospheric phenomena, and this decision is anticipated to significantly hinder climate research efforts in the United States. The announcement has been met with strong criticism from the scientific community.

Vought characterized NCAR as "one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country" and criticized what he referred to as "woke" initiatives aimed at increasing diversity in the sciences—initiatives that were largely accepted prior to the current administration. NCAR is located near Boulder, Colorado, and operates a supercomputing center in Wyoming. It receives substantial funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and is managed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), a nonprofit organization representing 130 educational institutions. Researchers at NCAR study various topics, including Earth and space weather, atmospheric chemistry, and their environmental and human impacts.

Vought indicated that the government would target what he termed "green new scam research activities" while reallocating other functions of the center to different institutions. However, it remains unclear whether the government has the authority to enforce these changes under its agreement with UCAR. The NSF has indicated its readiness to comply with the administration's directives, noting a focus on preserving functions that do not include climate change research and discussing the potential divestment of NCAR's resources, such as its supercomputing center and research aircraft.

UCAR has stated that the USA Today article was the first notification it received regarding these developments. Historically, similar drastic actions by the administration have faced legal challenges, often being deemed "arbitrary and capricious" by courts. Despite this, the administration has continued to pursue such measures, which can disrupt research on politically sensitive topics and compel scientists to seek more stable career opportunities elsewhere.

The scientific community has expressed alarm at the potential dismantling of NCAR. Texas Tech climate researcher Katharine Hayhoe remarked, "Dismantling NCAR is like taking a sledgehammer to the keystone holding up our scientific understanding of the planet." Gavin Schmidt, director of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, described NCAR as a "unique and valuable asset" for its extensive range of research.

While the closure of NCAR may not change the fundamental realities of climate change, as greenhouse gases will continue to affect global temperatures, the administration's ideological stance appears to position scientists as adversaries. This perspective has led to actions that may ultimately have detrimental effects on public understanding and response to climate issues.