White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought announced that the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado will be broken up.
Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) released the following statement criticizing the Trump Administration’s announcement to dismantle the largest Federal Climate Research Center in the Country.
“The National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado is one of the most important organizations, for the understanding of atmospheric science in the world,” said Congressman Sorensen. “In my previous career, I worked at NCAR to learn from some of the most brilliant minds in Meteorology.
“But now the Administration’s attack on science may put this in jeopardy, sending these important researchers to other countries. This is not how we put America first. Instead, it puts us dead last– as we fail to develop strategies and policy to combat man-made climate change.
“As the only Meteorologist in Congress, I will lead the charge against this radical, anti-science agenda…. [It] puts the lives of my neighbors and our National security at great risk!”
Read more: “What is the Trump administration’s rationale for dismantling NCAR? (AI Generated by USA TODAY.)
“The Trump Administration’s stated rationale for dismantling the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) centers on a desire to eliminate what it describes as “Federal climate alarmism,” and to “return” the Boulder, Colorado-based facility to its original focus on Weather Modeling and Atmospheric Research. Administration officials, including Russ Vought, Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, said they intend to identify and cut what they call “green new scam research activities” at NCAR, referring to the lab as one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the Country. The plan includes moving essential functions like weather modeling and supercomputing to other entities or locations.
“According to the Administration, this restructuring is framed as a correction to what they view as wasteful programs that stray from NCAR’s founding mission. Officials specifically pointed to initiatives such as NCAR’s Rising Voices Center for Indigenous and Earth Sciences, characterizing them as “woke” endeavors.
“The National Science Foundation, which funds about half of NCAR’s budget, will oversee the transfer of vital services and begin closing the Mesa Laboratory in Boulder.
“The move has raised concerns about impacts to more than 800 staff and the broader scientific community, that relies on NCAR’s expertise and facilities.”