Atmospheric research group sues Trump over imminent science lab breakup
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The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) sued the Trump administration Monday, alleging efforts to dismantle a Boulder-based federal lab are "unlawful retaliation" against the state of Colorado.
Why it matters: The lawsuit escalates a growing conflict between the Trump administration and Colorado over election policy, federal authority and the future of a major U.S. climate research hub.
The latest: UCAR filed a lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court seeking to stop the dismantling of Boulder's National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).
- The suit names the National Science Foundation (NSF); the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC); the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB); and their respective directors as defendants.
- "These actions pose a direct threat to national security, public safety, and economic prosperity and risk setting back the country's global leadership in weather and space weather modeling and forecasting," UCAR officials said in a statement.
What's in it: The lawsuit alleges the efforts to dismantle NCAR are "unlawful retaliation" by the Trump administration for the state's refusal to halt use of mail-in ballots and release incarcerated Trump ally Tina Peters.
- "When Colorado refused to accede to attempts to infringe upon its sovereignty, the (defendants) launched a widespread and coordinated campaign of punishment and coercion," the lawsuit reads. "UCAR and NCAR are collateral damage."
- Axios could not immediately reach the White House for comment.
Context: Peters, who was given a nine-year prison sentence for a scheme to undermine the 2020 election results, has been at the center of an ongoing political tug-of-war between Trump and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis.
- Shortly after Trump called Polis "weak and pathetic," Russ Vought, director of OMB, posted on social media that the NSF would be "breaking up" NCAR.
- The NSF, which funds NCAR, sent a letter in January announcing it opened a public comment period as it explored dismantling the lab.
Between the lines: U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, a Democrat, has already asked for an independent investigation into allegations that Trump administration officials sought to sell parts of NCAR to private interests before the comment period was over.
- The UCAR lawsuit alleges the Trump administration is "plotting steps to strip UCAR and NCAR of their resources, rights, and responsibilities."
- "Far from advancing any legitimate purpose, the (defendants') retaliatory actions are undermining the Trump Administration's objectives of maintaining superiority in weather forecasting, technological advancement, and supercomputing."
The bottom line: UCAR's lawsuit is the latest in a series of filings alleging the Trump administration has taken retaliatory action against the state.
- "Because Colorado refuses to relinquish to the federal government powers reserved to it by the Constitution, the (defendants) have undertaken a series of retributive actions designed to coerce and punish Colorado," the lawsuit reads.