By Destroying Atmospheric Research Institution, Trump Retreats Further from Leadership
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration announced today it would dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research, a move that could decimate one of the world’s leading research institutions studying weather and climate change.
In a statement announcing the dismantling of the research institution, Russ Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, told USAToday: “This facility is one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country. A comprehensive review is underway and any vital activities such as weather research will be moved to another entity or location.”
In response, David Arkush, director of Public Citizen’s Climate Program, issued the following statement:
“The climate crisis is indeed alarming. Rising temperatures and extreme weather are major drivers of rising household costs, about which the American public is overwhelmingly concerned. More than just damaging property, reducing home values, diminishing crop yields, and depressing labor productivity, extreme weather is also killing people.
“A U.S. president should confront these problems directly and decisively—not hide from them and smash world-leading research institutions that provide unpleasant but vital information about them. This plan is just another sad and damaging retreat from real leadership. Worse than merely fail to address problems, it will leave us less capable of responding in the future and cede U.S. leadership to other nations.”
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