Colorado senators block budget to defend Boulder climate lab
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The National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder. Photo: RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images
Colorado's U.S. senators are blocking a government spending bill, demanding the Trump administration reverse plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research — a major climate lab based in Boulder.
Why it matters: The move places a nationally critical climate and weather research lab at the center of an escalating battle between the Trump administration and Colorado.
The latest: Colorado U.S. Sens. John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet objected to moving forward with the so-called minibus spending package that would have funded 85% to 90% of the federal government through September 2026.
- The objection came in response to Russ Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, announcing Tuesday that the National Science Foundation would be "breaking up" NCAR.
- The senators said they would not approve the spending package until language was added to the bill to protect NCAR's funding and future operation.
Between the lines: Officials have accused Trump of targeting Colorado for spending cuts in response to the state's voting system and its refusal to intervene on behalf of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, who was convicted on election tampering charges.
- Hickenlooper said in a post Thursday that Trump is "weaponizing the federal government against Colorado."
- The president recently called Colorado Gov. Jared Polis a "weak and pathetic man" and NOTUS reported that a White House official said: "Maybe if Colorado had a governor who actually wanted to work with President Trump, his constituents would be better served."
What they're saying: "President Trump is attacking Colorado because we refuse to bend to his corrupt administration," Hickenlooper and Bennet said in a joint statement. "His reckless decision to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research will have lasting, devastating impacts across the country."
- The White House could not immediately be reached for comment.
Zoom in: Trump has targeted federal labs in the Boulder area since the start of his second term, including proposing deep cuts to:
- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- The National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- The National Institute of Standards and Technology
What's next: A rally supporting NCAR and its employees is scheduled for 11am Saturday at Broadway and Rayleigh Road in Boulder, per an email shared with Axios.