Politics

White House Announces Plans to Dismantle National Center for Atmospheric Research

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Dec 29, 2025

THE BARE STORY

The White House has announced plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), a federally funded facility headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought stated on Tuesday that the National Science Foundation (NSF) would be "breaking up" the center. The NSF subsequently posted on its website that it is reviewing the facility's structure.

According to administration officials, "vital activities" performed by NCAR, including weather research, modeling, and supercomputing, will be transferred to other entities or locations. Vought described the center as one of the "largest sources of climate alarmism in the country." An anonymous senior White House official reportedly characterized the facility as a stronghold for "left-wing climate lunacy" and stated that its research activities would be eliminated.

The decision drew sharp criticism from officials and scientists who warned of negative impacts on public safety and research. Colorado Governor Jared Polis stated that the move represents an attack on science and noted that NCAR provides life-saving data on severe weather events, such as fires and floods. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, the top Democrat on the House Science Committee, argued that eliminating the center would put Americans at greater risk from natural disasters.

Established in 1960, NCAR is managed by a nonprofit consortium of over 120 colleges and universities. Experts, including Michael Mann of the University of Pennsylvania and Carlos Martinez of the Union of Concerned Scientists, expressed concern that the dismantling would undermine U.S. standing in climate science and disrupt weather prediction capabilities. Mann described the action as symbolic of a "destruction of knowledge."

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• Concerns regarding the center's ideological stance OMB Director Russ Vought described the facility as one of the "largest sources of climate alarmism in the country." An anonymous senior White House official reportedly characterized the center as a stronghold for "left-wing climate lunacy" and stated that its research activities would be eliminated.

• Plan to transfer essential functions to other entities Officials stated that "vital activities" currently performed by the center will be preserved and moved to different locations or entities. These activities specifically include supercomputing, modeling, and weather research.

• Intent to restructure and break up the facility Director Vought announced that the National Science Foundation (NSF) would be "breaking up" the federally funded center. Following the announcement, the NSF posted on its website confirming that it is reviewing the facility's structure.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader: Your access to accurate severe weather warnings for fires and floods may be impacted if the center's dismantling disrupts the life-saving data currently provided to the public.

Essential government services including supercomputing and weather modeling will be moved to new entities, a process intended to preserve vital functions while breaking up the facility.

The United States' global position in climate research could diminish as the facility, managed by over 120 universities, faces the elimination of certain research activities.

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