1. United States
2. Colo.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to protect funding for the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder and reject any attempts by the Trump administration to close this vital facility. Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought has threatened NCAR's closure over alleged climate alarmism, but this characterization misrepresents the center's critical work that extends far beyond climate research. NCAR develops weather prediction models and air safety technology that saves lives daily. The center created the wind shear and microburst detection technology now used in aircraft cockpits worldwide, which has significantly reduced plane crashes since the 1970s and 1980s. NCAR also predicts solar storms that could disrupt power grids, GPS systems, and satellite communications. Additionally, the facility tracks air quality, pollution, and wildfire smoke globally, providing essential data for public health and safety. Former NCAR director Jim Hurrell, who led the center from 2013 to 2018 and now works at Colorado State University, describes it as essentially a town square for the global atmospheric research community. Closing NCAR would damage not only Colorado's research infrastructure but also international scientific collaboration that protects Americans from natural hazards. Former Democratic Representative David Skaggs, who served on the board of UCAR, NCAR's parent organization, has suggested that Congress can protect NCAR's funding through legislative language. I strongly encourage you to pursue this approach immediately. The scientific work conducted at NCAR transcends political debates and provides tangible benefits to aviation safety, infrastructure protection, and public health. Colorado cannot afford to lose this research institution. I ask that you take concrete legislative action to secure NCAR's funding and ensure its continued operation.