Stop the Dismantling of the National Center for Atmospheric Research

On December 16, 2025, the White House announced plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado, dismissing its work as “climate alarmism” and a misuse of taxpayer dollars. This decision is dangerous, irresponsible, and puts American lives at risk. Since its founding in 1960, NCAR has served as the backbone of U.S. weather and climate science. It is a federally funded research center sponsored by the National Science Foundation and relied upon daily by the National Weather Service, private forecasters, airlines, farmers, utilities, water managers, and emergency responders. The accuracy of weather forecasts and severe-storm warnings across the United States depends directly on NCAR’s research, data, and models. NCAR scientists pioneered dropsonde technology, which revolutionized hurricane forecasting by dramatically improving predictions of storm track and intensity—advances that have saved countless lives. NCAR research also led to the development of microburst detection and forecasting systems, addressing sudden violent wind events that once caused fatal aviation crashes during takeoff and landing. These are not abstract academic exercises; they are life-saving public safety tools. NCAR is also central to America’s scientific workforce. Through graduate fellowships, internships, workshops, and open-access modeling systems, NCAR trains meteorologists and climate scientists from across the country and around the world. When a forecaster issues a hurricane warning, tornado alert, or extreme heat advisory, the science behind it often traces directly back to NCAR. The administration’s proposed “comprehensive review” threatens to hollow out this critical institution, fragment its work, and degrade the nation’s forecasting capacity. Dismantling NCAR would weaken disaster preparedness, undermine aviation safety, impair water and energy planning, and leave communities more vulnerable to hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and extreme heat. It would also surrender U.S. leadership in weather and climate science at a time when accurate forecasting is more essential than ever. This is not a partisan issue. Weather does not care about ideology. Hurricanes, wildfires, and flash floods do not distinguish between red states and blue states. NCAR’s work protects every American. I urge you to use your authority to block any effort to dismantle or defund NCAR, to protect its independence, and to ensure stable, long-term funding for its research and training mission. Congress must act now to defend public safety, scientific integrity, and America’s ability to predict and prepare for dangerous weather.