National Science Foundation signals plan to break up NCAR
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The National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesa Lab in Boulder. Photo: Matthew Jonas / MediaNews Group / Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images
The National Science Foundation signaled plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in a letter that also opened the door to a private operation taking over.
Why it matters: The letter marks the first official step toward dismantling the Boulder-based research center, advancing a Trump administration push that critics, such as Rep. Joe Neguse, say could put public safety at risk by privatizing weather forecasting.
The latest: The science foundation's letter, published Friday, doubled down on the administration's intent to "restructure" NCAR and sought "input from agency partners and the research community on the scope of work currently performed" there.
- It also asked for input from possible operators on opening ownership of the NCAR's Mesa Lab building for "private use."
The other side: Neguse, a Boulder-area Democrat, released a statement Tuesday calling the letter "outrageous" and said he would organize a "bipartisan coalition of lawmakers" to submit a formal response.
- "NCAR is a vital, cutting-edge research institution, and dismantling it would be reckless, dangerous, and place the United States at a serious competitive disadvantage," Neguse said, adding that privatizing would "hand off their life-saving work to the highest bidder."
What we're watching: Neguse did not give a timeline for a response, but the NSF letter says feedback from agencies and researchers must be submitted by March 13.
State of play: David Hosansky, a spokesperson for NCAR, told Axios Boulder that "we are continuing to do our work as always, and we're in touch with NSF to better understand how this process will unfold."
Catch up quick: In December, Russ Vought, director of Office of Management and Budget, announced the Trump administration's intent to break up NCAR.
- Colorado's U.S. senators failed to block a spending bill that they had tried to tie to NCAR funding.
- NCAR, funded by the NSF, employs more than 800 people across its Boulder labs.
Between the lines: Although Vought said the move to dismantle NCAR aimed to combat "climate alarmism," Colorado Democrats have called it the latest retaliatory action taken by the Trump administration against the state.
- "Donald Trump's blatant and unlawful retaliation against Colorado must end.… It's reprehensible, and we will continue to fight against it on all fronts," Neguse said in his Tuesday statement.