UCAR Sues Trump Administration Over Plan to Dismantle Top Climate Lab

The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research filed a federal lawsuit on March 16 against the National Science Foundation, NOAA, the Department of Commerce, the Office of Management and Budget, and two senior administration officials over what it calls "a widespread and coordinated campaign" to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado.

The lawsuit alleges that the restructuring is unconstitutional retaliation — not a legitimate reorganization of federal science infrastructure. NCAR operates weather modeling systems and observational platforms used by researchers, forecasters, and emergency managers nationwide.

What Led to the Lawsuit

UCAR's complaint traces a timeline of escalating federal actions against Colorado following Governor Jared Polis's refusal to grant clemency to election official Tina Peters in December 2025. Within days, the suit alleges, the administration moved to dismantle NCAR, terminated a $14 million NOAA cooperative agreement with UCAR, canceled $615 million in Department of Energy funds to Colorado entities, and denied two FEMA disaster relief requests for the state.

NSF had issued a Dear Colleague Letter in December announcing its intent to restructure NCAR's "critical weather infrastructure," including potentially transferring the NCAR-Wyoming Supercomputing Center to a third party and divesting research aircraft.

A White House official told reporters: "Maybe if Colorado had a governor who actually wanted to work with President Trump, his constituents would be better served."

What This Means for Atmospheric Science Funding

The consequences extend well beyond Boulder. NCAR supports hundreds of university-based researchers through data access, modeling tools, and collaborative agreements. Seventeen subcontractors and eight direct employees have already been terminated due to funding losses.

CU Boulder has proposed a consortium with the University of Oklahoma and the University of Wyoming to take over NCAR's operations if the restructuring proceeds, offering a potential lifeline for the lab's research programs.

The lawsuit includes five counts under the Administrative Procedure Act and seeks injunctive relief blocking the restructuring.

Who Should Be Watching

Atmospheric scientists, climate researchers, and university programs that depend on NCAR data and infrastructure should monitor this case closely. If the restructuring proceeds, new funding pathways — and potentially new institutional partners — will emerge. Researchers tracking federal science policy developments can find analysis at grantedai.com.