A White House official criticized the research laboratory located at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, asserting that it is "one of the biggest sources of climate alarmism in the country." While the Center maintains that taking such action would “hinder the ability to predict extreme weather events and other natural disasters.”

White House Budget Director Russ Vought disagrees with the existence of the laboratory and, through a social media post, said that “vital activities, such as weather research, will be moved to another entity or location.”

“Research is crucial to driving American prosperity”

The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), upon learning of the decision, issued a statement.

“NSF NCAR research is crucial to driving American prosperity by protecting lives and property, supporting the economy, and strengthening national security,” stated Antonio Busalacchi, president of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR).

“Any plan to dismantle NSF NCAR would hinder our nation's ability to predict, prepare for, and respond to extreme weather events and other natural disasters,” he emphasized.

The research lab, which houses the largest federal climate change research program, is run by a nonprofit consortium of more than 130 universities on behalf of the National Science Foundation.

“Wastes public funds on frivolous ideologies”

The Associated Press reported that the official cited two examples of the lab's “progressive direction,” which “wastes public funds on frivolous activities and ideologies.”

“One funded an Indigenous and Earth Sciences center whose goal was to make science more welcoming, inclusive, and justice-centered,” while another experiment tracked air pollution to “demonize motor vehicles and oil and gas operations.”

Busalacchi invited people to review the center's work and the benefits it provides to the country.

“We look forward to working with the administration to continue focusing on safeguarding our nation's security and prosperity,” Busalacchi added.

“NCAR supports scientists”

For climate scientists, the lab “is literally our global mothership,” said Katharine Hayhoe, a climate scientist and distinguished professor at Texas Tech University, AP reported.

“NCAR supports scientists flying into hurricanes, meteorologists developing new radar technology, physicists devising and coding new weather models, and yes, the world's largest community climate model. That too,” Hayhoe wrote in a social media post.

She added that “Dismantling NCAR is like hitting the cornerstone that holds our scientific understanding of the planet with a sledgehammer.”

Colorado Governor Jared Polis called the laboratory a world leader in Earth systems science research.