Brace yourselves, folks—the Trump administration just dropped a bombshell by targeting a major scientific institution for closure.

The Trump plan, unveiled this week, is to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), a federally funded hub in Boulder, Colorado, that’s been a cornerstone of atmospheric and earth system science since its founding in 1960, as the Washington Examiner reports.

NCAR, sponsored by the National Science Foundation and managed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, employs around 830 staff and received about $123 million in core funding this fiscal year—nearly half its budget.

Budget Cuts or Ideological Clash?

Russ Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, spearheaded the announcement, framing it as a necessary review of what he sees as a problematic institution.

“This facility is one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country,” Vought declared, adding that vital work like weather research would be relocated to another entity or location.

Well, that’s one way to trim the fat—or is it just a jab at science that doesn’t fit the narrative? While cutting federal spending is a noble goal for many conservatives, one has to wonder if weather data is the real enemy here.

Colorado Leaders Push Back Hard

Colorado’s leadership isn’t taking this lying down, with Gov. Jared Polis and Attorney General Phil Weiser voicing sharp opposition to the move.

Polis called NCAR a “global leader in earth system science,” stressing its critical role in severe weather research that saves lives and property during disasters like fires and floods.

Weiser, meanwhile, questioned the administration’s legal authority to shutter the center, hinting at further courtroom battles to protect Colorado’s interests.

Legal Battles Loom on Horizon

This isn’t the first time Colorado has clashed with Trump’s policies—earlier this year, the state sued over the relocation of the U.S. Space Command Headquarters from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama.

Weiser doubled down, stating, “We will not be swayed by his efforts to threaten, intimidate, or punish our state.”

That’s fighting talk, but let’s be real—legal challenges against federal decisions are an uphill climb, even if they play well with a frustrated local base.

Supporters Cheer the Cost-Cutting Move

On the flip side, some voices are applauding the administration’s decision, seeing it as a long-overdue slash to bloated federal spending.

Historian and former professor Larry Schweikart praised the move, saying, “OMB Director Russ Vought announces the National Center for Atmospheric Research will be dismantled. Good.”

Schweikart’s blunt approval echoes a sentiment among many fiscal conservatives who argue that not every government-funded project deserves a blank check, especially when the research can be spun as pushing a progressive agenda. While it’s fair to question NCAR’s focus, dismissing its contributions to weather safety feels like throwing the baby out with the bathwater—there’s a balance to strike between skepticism of overreach and respect for tangible benefits.