Trump’s Crusade Against ‘Woke’ Climate Research Threatens Solar Science
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White House Targets National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR)
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The Trump administration plans to dismantle a key climate and space weather research facility, raising concerns about the future of scientific inquiry and preparedness for solar events.Updated as of December 29, 2025, 22:20:02 EST.
Background: The National Center for Atmospheric Research
The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), founded in 1960, is a federally funded research and growth center dedicated to advancing understanding of the atmosphere, ocean, and space.It operates under the auspices of the National Science Foundation (NSF). NCAR’s research spans a wide range of disciplines, including climate modeling, weather forecasting, and space weather prediction. Its unique organizational structure allows it to serve the entire atmospheric and geospace science community,providing resources and expertise not readily available elsewhere.
NCAR’s primary facility is the Mesa Laboratory in Boulder, Colorado, designed by architect I.M.Pei. Beyond the Mesa Lab, NCAR operates research aircraft, supercomputing facilities, and field observatories across the United States and internationally.
The White House’s Plan and Rationale
Russ vought, Director of the White House Office of management and Budget (OMB), announced the administration’s intention to dismantle NCAR on December 16, 2023, via a post on X (formerly Twitter). Vought characterized NCAR as “one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country.”
This move aligns with the Trump administration’s broader efforts to downplay climate change and reduce funding for climate science. Previous actions included proposing meaningful cuts to NSF’s climate research budget and removing climate change details from government websites. The dismantling of NCAR represents a more drastic step, potentially eliminating a key institution dedicated to understanding and addressing climate change.
Impact on Climate Science
NCAR plays a crucial role in climate modeling and prediction. Its scientists develop and maintain complex climate models used to project future climate scenarios. These models are essential for informing policy decisions related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Dismantling NCAR would substantially hinder the nation’s ability to understand and respond to the climate crisis.
The loss of NCAR’s expertise and resources would also impact international climate research efforts. NCAR collaborates with scientists around the world, contributing to global climate assessments and research initiatives.
Space Weather Implications
Beyond climate research, NCAR is a vital contributor to space weather forecasting. Space weather refers to the conditions in space caused by the Sun’s activity, which can disrupt satellite communications, power grids, and other critical infrastructure. NCAR scientists study the Sun’s corona, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections, and develop models to predict thier impact on Earth.
Two upcoming NASA heliophysics missions, the Extreme Space Atmosphere: Dynamics and Energetics (ESCAPE) and the TRACEr missions, rely on work carried out by NCAR scientists. The ESCAPE mission aims to understand how