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In the newest round of research defunding, the Trump Administration took aim at the Atmospheric Research Center and plans to migrate the research to another agency.
The Trump Administration Wants to Dismantle “Climate Alarmist” Atmospheric Research Center
Climate-related research is under threat after a Tuesday announcement by the Trump Administration that it intends to dissolve a key federal climate science research center in Colorado.
Ross Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, called the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder “one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country.”
Plans to break up the agency that conducts earth systems scientific research are a risky move and put states, particularly those like Oregon, where flooding and wildfires are common, at risk.
On X (formerly Twitter), Vought said:
The National Science Foundation will be breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado. This facility is one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country. A comprehensive review is underway & any vital activities such as weather…
— Russ Vought (@russvought) December 17, 2025
The latest move to gut the agency follows a $1.33 billion, or 28% cut to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s operations, research, and facilities budget earlier this year, and a 75% cut to its Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), which would be the death knell for the agency’s core climate science work.
In addition, the Administration dismissed all contributors to the National Climate Assessment, which informs federal and local governments on how to prepare for the effects of climate change.
NCAR builds and maintains research tools widely used across the scientific community, governments, and international climate assessment bodies.
NCAR is not just a lab, its tools underpin weather forecasts used far beyond Colorado.
Tidings Data Snapshot
NCAR WRF model : global user footprintSource: NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center slides on WRF community model supportDailyTidings.com
Oregon Natural Disasters Less Predictable Without NCAR Data
The NCAR data predicts severe weather events like fires and floods, helping states save lives and property and prevent devastation for families.
Wildfires, floods, and extreme weather frequently hit Oregon. Currently, it relies heavily on NCAR’s models for forecasting, such as the recent atmospheric river storms causing current flooding.
Oregon has had repeated major disasters in the same hazard lanes that forecasting models help anticipate.
| Year | Declaration | Incident | Incident period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | DR 4768 OR | Severe winter storms / straight line winds / landslides / mudslides | Jan 10, 2024 to Jan 22, 2024 |
| 2024 | DR 4854 OR | Wildfires | Jul 10, 2024 to Aug 23, 2024 |
| 2025 | DR 4881 OR | Winter storms / flooding / landslides / mudslides | Mar 13, 2025 to Mar 20, 2025 |
The current NCAR data for Oregon through Friday indicates:
- A cool and unsettled pattern remains across northwest Oregon and southwest Washington this afternoon and evening.
- Scattered showers and mountain snow continue mainly in southwest Washington.
- A few slower-responding rivers continue to experience flooding.
- Winter travel conditions may linger across the Cascade passes with occasional mountain snow expected beyond this weekend.
- An active and progressive pattern continues into next week, with periodic chances for rain and breezy conditions, and a very low chance for lowland snow at the end of next week.
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