Image: from Trisha Calvarese for Colorado X @trisha4colorado
BOULDER, CO — In a move that has sent shockwaves through the global scientific community, the Trump administration has announced plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), a world-renowned hub for weather and climate science located in the foothills of the Rockies.
Russ Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), announced the decision via social media, labeling the institution “one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country.” The administration intends to break up the facility and redistribute its core functions, a move it describes as “restoring the lab to its original purpose” by eliminating research tied to what officials call the “Green New Scam.”
Science is under attack and California is on the front lines. One of science's most basic facts is that climate change is threatening human health and safety, and we have no time to waste.#AAASmtg pic.twitter.com/psM4HGlUvZ
— California Natural Resources Agency (@CalNatResources) February 13, 2026
Breaking Up the “Mothership”
Managed by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and a consortium of over 130 universities, NCAR has been the “mothership” of atmospheric science since its founding in 1960. The administration’s plan includes:
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The Mesa Laboratory: The iconic I.M. Pei-designed headquarters in Boulder is slated for closure or repurposing.
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Supercomputing Transfer: Management of the NCAR-Wyoming Supercomputing Center—which supports thousands of researchers across 500+ universities—will be transferred to a yet-to-be-named “third-party operator.”
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Aircraft and Observatories: The NSF is exploring options to transfer stewardship of NCAR’s specialized research aircraft and solar observatories to other entities.
Retaliation Allegations
The timing of the directive has sparked intense political friction. Several Colorado Democrats, including Rep. Joe Neguse and Sen. John Hickenlooper, have suggested the move is “blatantly retaliatory.” They point to the administration’s frustration with Colorado’s refusal to release Tina Peters, a former county clerk currently serving a prison sentence for her role in a 2020 election equipment security breach.
“Efforts to dismantle this institution are deeply dangerous,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement. “NCAR delivers life-saving breakthroughs—from hurricane tracking to wildfire modeling—that protect families in Colorado and across the nation.”
A “Sledgehammer” to Science
Climate scientists warn that separating weather forecasting from climate modeling is an artificial distinction that will degrade the accuracy of both. Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, a prominent climate scientist, compared the move to “taking a sledgehammer to the keystone holding up our scientific understanding of the planet.”
While the administration has pledged that “vital activities” like solar storm prediction and severe weather modeling will be relocated, critics argue that the fragmentation of NCAR’s integrated research teams will cripple the nation’s ability to respond to natural disasters.
As the NSF begins a 60-day solicitation for “transformative concepts” to redistribute NCAR’s functions, hundreds of scientists have gathered in Boulder to protest, vowing to fight the dismantling of an institution they say is essential to national security and the economy.