The White House has directed the National Science Foundation (NSF) to begin the process of dismantling the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), a prominent U.S. institution based in Boulder, Colorado. The sudden announcement has sent shockwaves through the scientific community, raising concerns about the future of critical research in weather, climate, and space science.
The administration cited concerns over what it termed "climate alarmism" as a primary reason for the decision. The move threatens not only terrestrial weather forecasting but also vital space weather research that supports NASA missions and protects national infrastructure.
Key Takeaways
- The White House has officially proposed breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).
- The administration's rationale points to concerns about the center's research direction, described as "climate alarmism."
- The proposal has significant implications for space science, including several NASA-backed heliophysics missions led by NCAR scientists.
- Scientific leaders and a bipartisan group of over 70 members of Congress have voiced strong opposition to the plan.
A Sudden and Unexpected Announcement
The proposal to break up one of the nation's leading atmospheric science hubs caught its leadership and the broader scientific world completely by surprise. The news first emerged on December 16 and was confirmed by a social media post from Russell Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget.
In his statement, Vought described NCAR as "one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country." He confirmed that a comprehensive review was underway and that essential functions, such as weather research, would be transferred to other entities or locations.
Antonio Busalacchi, president of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), which manages NCAR, said he learned of the plan while hosting an awards reception. Speaking at a press briefing during the American Geophysical Union's annual meeting, Busalacchi stated that the only official communication received was a vague letter from the NSF soliciting input on NCAR's future.
"Our job is to do basic and fundamental research. We are physical scientists. We are not political scientists. What we do is not — and I repeat, is not — policy prescriptive."
Busalacchi also addressed specific criticisms, noting that NCAR's wind energy forecasting work saved a Colorado utility's customers $150 million over 15 years. He clarified that an art exhibit mentioned as a point of concern did not use federal funding.
Impact Extends Beyond Climate Science
While NCAR is widely recognized for its contributions to weather forecasting and climate modeling, its work extends far beyond Earth's atmosphere. The center's High Altitude Observatory is a key player in heliophysics, the study of the sun and its effects on the solar system, including Earth.
NCAR's Role in Space Science
NCAR scientists are deeply involved in studying solar activity and its impact on Earth's magnetosphere and upper atmosphere. This research is crucial for understanding and predicting space weather, which can disrupt satellites, power grids, and communication systems.
The proposal to dismantle NCAR directly threatens several important space missions. Two recently selected NASA projects are led by NCAR scientists:
- Chromospheric Magnetism Explorer (CMEx): A mission selected for further study under NASA's heliophysics Small Explorer program, designed to study the sun's chromosphere.
- Solar Transition Region Ultraviolet Explorer (STRUVE): A cubesat mission planned for a 2029 launch to also study the chromosphere and its connection to space weather.
Furthermore, NCAR is a partner on the COSMIC-2 mission, a joint U.S.-Taiwan project launched in 2019. Its six satellites provide atmospheric data that improves weather forecasting accuracy. The American Astronomical Society expressed alarm over the proposal, with President Dara Norman stating that NCAR's research "informs our understanding of space weather hazards caused by solar storms."
Bipartisan Opposition and an Uncertain Future
The White House's plan has been met with swift and strong resistance from both the scientific community and lawmakers. A bipartisan letter signed by more than 70 members of Congress was sent to House and Senate appropriations leaders, urging them to maintain "sustained funding" for the institution.
A Contradiction in Policy
The letter from Congress highlighted a significant contradiction: the White House's own fiscal year 2026 budget proposal for the NSF described NCAR as a "world-class research center." Despite this praise, the same budget document proposed a 40% cut to NCAR's funding.
The letter was led by Colorado's congressional delegation, including Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), Rep. Jeff Hurd (R-Colo.), Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.).
Rep. Neguse called the attempt to dismantle the institution "dangerous, reckless and would ultimately put the United States at a very deep competitive disadvantage." His Republican colleague, Rep. Hurd, added, "Dismantling this institution doesn’t make sense."
Busalacchi warned that breaking up NCAR would be incredibly inefficient and costly. He estimated that duplicating administrative and support functions for the separated research activities would cost "at least an order of magnitude more." NCAR currently operates with approximately $127 million in base funding from the NSF, supplemented by another $55 million in project-specific grants from agencies like NASA and NOAA.
As the scientific community and lawmakers await the administration's next move, the future of a vital research center remains uncertain. When asked about what comes next, Busalacchi offered a candid response reflecting the current unpredictability. "We do prediction of the weather," he said, "not prediction of politics."