The Trump administration’s recent actions to dismantle climate change regulations, cut funding for climate programs, and undermine climate research have raised significant concerns among top scientists. Of particular alarm is the proposed slashing of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) budget, endangering vital climate modeling and forecasting efforts conducted in partnership with Princeton University.

The leaked memo from the Office of Management and Budget reveals drastic cuts to NOAA, including a 27% funding reduction and the potential elimination of crucial climate research functions. The proposed cuts target NOAA’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, a cornerstone of global climate science, with a proposed 74% cut that could lead to its closure.

The implications of these cuts extend beyond climate science, impacting industries and sectors that rely on NOAA’s data for economic decisions, disaster preparedness, and national security. The loss of NOAA’s climate models could set back forecasting capabilities to outdated levels, jeopardizing the nation’s ability to adapt and respond to climate-related challenges.

Moreover, the potential dismantling of NOAA’s core scientific responsibilities raises concerns about the country’s strategic edge in security planning and intelligence operations. NOAA’s climate models play a crucial role in military operations, Navy activities, and long-term defense planning, making the reliability of these forecasts essential for national security.

The broader economic and societal impacts of defunding NOAA’s climate research are significant, affecting industries like insurance, shipping, agriculture, and finance that rely on NOAA data for planning and risk assessment. The potential loss of NOAA’s climate forecasting capabilities poses not just environmental risks but also economic and security threats that could have far-reaching consequences for the nation.