As the Trump administration moves to dismantle Boulder’s National Center for Atmospheric Research, Gov. Jared Polis is urging organizations to submit comments supporting keeping the lab intact before Friday’s deadline.
In a Dear Colleague letter, the National Science Foundation set an 11:59 p.m. ET deadline on March 13 to provide feedback about how to “restructure” the lab. However, Rep. Joe Neguse’s office says a whistleblower indicated that officials at the Office of Management and Budget have already begun negotiating to transfer some NCAR assets to a private company before the comment period closes.
New reporting from Science provides additional insight into proposals under consideration. According to the outlet, one expected proposal could come from the University of Oklahoma, home to major severe weather research centers. Another may come from Lynker, a NOAA contractor who has expressed interest in taking over NCAR’s space weather research.
A third idea comes from University of Washington atmospheric scientist Cliff Mass, who has proposed combining elements of NCAR and NOAA into a nonprofit called the American Center for Weather Prediction Science. Under that concept, most NCAR research — including its climate work — could continue at the Mesa Lab in Boulder, while a nonprofit structure would allow U.S. companies to invest in the research.
According to Science, the Office of Management and Budget, which has been directing NSF’s actions related to NCAR, is expected to make the final decision on competing proposals.
Polis is pushing for NCAR to remain a cohesive entity and is urging organizations to submit comments supporting that outcome.
“People evacuate more quickly and safely from fires because of NCAR. The research and data produced at NCAR improve forecasting of severe weather events like fires and floods, support safer aviation and transportation, and help businesses and communities make informed decisions,” Polis said in a statement urging businesses and organizations to describe how they benefit from NCAR’s research.
Legislators are also pushing back. Last week, a U.S. Senate committee approved a bill with an amendment to prevent NSF from transferring any NCAR assets until it completes a report to Congress on how the transfer might affect weather prediction. There’s no guarantee the bill will become law. The governor’s press release also cited a Boulder Reporting Lab article on Neguse’s whistleblower reports of early negotiations and his subsequent call for an investigation by the NSF inspector general.
“These concerns underscore the importance of robust participation in the current comment period as the agency considers the future of this critical national resource,” Polis’ statement said.
The Trump administration’s push to break up NCAR began in December, following tension between the president and Polis over Tina Peters. Peters, a Republican Mesa County election official, was sentenced to nine years in prison for allowing unauthorized access to county voting equipment in connection with 2020 election conspiracy theories. Trump appeared to attempt to pardon Peters in a Truth Social post, though it had no effect because Peters was convicted on state charges and the president cannot pardon state crimes.
Colorado’s Democratic lawmakers, including Neguse, have since called the move to dismantle the lab retaliatory. In December and January, Polis’ office declined to answer questions from Boulder Reporting Lab about whether it considered the changes to NCAR a response to the Peters case. In recent weeks, Polis has signaled a willingness to consider commuting Peters’ sentence.
Polis’ comments prompted a March 11 letter from every state Democratic lawmaker urging the governor not to commute Peters’ sentence.
I strongly oppose the dismantling of NCAR. As we witness extreme and dangerous weather events across the country, this vitally important agency is now more important than ever. Please do what is necessary to support this position.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
This sale can’t/won’t go through if the City says outright it violates the formal agreement with the government and refuses to provide water/sewer service to a property above the “blue line”. Besides, how much is fed funding already being withholding from Boulder for political reasons? Time to finally fight fire with fire here at the local level; as have no confidence our Dem legislators or impotent Gov are going to do anything beyond a PR and advocacy campaign…because let’s be honest, that stuff has yet to halt any off this blatantly illegal Repug efforts burning down all climate science and research infrastructure.
Another instance of Trump’s vengeful attacks on science while promoting his agenda to encourage election tampering. Keep Peters in jail where she belongs.
I visited NCAR some years ago when my daughter was in at CU Boulder. I was very impressed by the facility and the research that they are involved in. I think NCAR is an important resource to the state of Colorado and the United States as well. Please do not dismantle this important research facility. Weather events are increasingly affecting the United States and the World so NCAR is more important now then ever before.
NCAR should be preserved and maintained as a public entity, federally funded, and unobstructed by the current administration. The public needs free and reliable weather data and guidance issued from a trusted source. Damage to and privatization of NCAR threatens to undermine public safety by forcing those who cannot afford to pay for privatized weather information to be without it and not forewarned of changing and/or dangerous conditions. This is perilous for the whole country, not just Colorado.
NCAR is a premier research institution that leads the world in scientific exploration of global climate conditions. Harming NCAR puts that research in jeopardy. Privatized climate data will be biased by the agendas of the institution’s financial goals. It undermines the clarity and reliability of information emitting from that institution. Do not pollute NCAR with profit margin pursuits.
The government should leave NCAR alone. It is a world renowned and respected research institute. Its dismantling is only being pursued as retribution for holding Tina Peters accountable for her attempted election fraud, without concern for public safety. It is the result of infantile White House leadership that seems only capable of destroying the country’s best institutions. Dismantling NCAR is idiotic and will cause harm to the public and to research on global climate conditions.
NCAR is a respected and valued source for factual climate data and information. It has a positve record of public engagement during its entire history. Its dismemberment is an indication of anti-intellectual bias by the current administration. The facility and its work needs must be maintained for the benefit of future generations. Disrespect for science is a hallmark of political dogma.
I cannot believe a world renowed scientific organization, NCAR, is in danger because of retaliation on the part of the current federal regime. It will be impossible to replace what NCAR does to keep citizens safe in the western half of the country..
NCAR has always done very important research, and there’s no reason why it should be shut down, now or ever.
~Jim Cabral
CU Boulder ’83
NCAR is an important scientific facility.in existence for 60 years. Breaking it up, closing it even if some of its components are.mobed elsewhere would destabilize research with no non political benefits. This is an anti science move in the view of this economic geologist.
Arrr, a link to the government line for NCAR feedback would have been really helpful!
Yes, agreed. Today is the last day for public comment? How can we register our strong opposition to breaking up the lab in a manner that has some hope of making a difference?
Hi Eileen,
We added a link. You can find instructions on how to provide feedback here: https://www.nsf.gov/funding/information/dcl-nsf-intent-restructure-critical-weather-infrastructure
All responses should be sent to NSF_NCAR@nsf.gov.
Dismantling NCAR is so shortsighted! The world of science and rational thought serves every person, not just one political party, not even just Americans. The world respects NCAR. Saving NCAR is the right thing to do.
Sincerely,
Jocelyn Gebhardt
I do not support moving NCAR. The people who work there do necessary and important work. This work is not weird or left or right. Rather the information helps farmers, ranchers, and the weather professionals any citizen can see on their home television. The professionals here study weather patterns such as tornados, hurricanes, changes in patterns of weather. This information may save lives and crops. Their research must stay in place and they need to continue doing the work that supports so many people now and in the future.
I also oppose the dismantling of NCAR. Our extreme weather changes are happening right now. We as a country need the best weather knowledge possible to save lives and property and NCAR’s reseach and expertise are greatly needed. Why dismantle or cut the current research and professionals who are already envolved and researching the very answers to our national problem.
It is very important to maintain this very essential research institution as is. NCAR does excellent and essential work especially at this time when extreme weather is affecting all of the country. It is vital that the federal government support and fund NCAR equal to or even more than it has in the past.
I strongly oppose the dismantling on NCAR.