In brief
The Trump administration’s recent decision to cut funding and staffing for the National Climate Assessment has raised eyebrows among scientists, as the vital report faces jeopardy.
The National Climate Assessment, mandated by Congress to be released every four years, evaluates the impacts of climate change on various sectors in the U.S. The latest assessment, completed in 2023, is crucial for local governments and businesses to strategize against the consequences of global warming. Oversight of the report falls under the Global Change Research Program, supported by NASA and collaborating with numerous federal agencies and external scientists. On Tuesday, NASA issued stop-work orders on contracts with ICF International, the firm responsible for providing essential technical and staffing support for the program. The contract, initially valued at over $33 million, played a key role in staffing the program with around two dozen personnel. The loss of ICF’s support raises questions regarding the feasibility of producing the upcoming Climate Assessment, particularly as scientists emphasize the congressionally mandated nature of the report. A NASA spokesperson highlighted that the agency is restructuring its support in line with President Trump’s executive orders and aims to enhance efficiency across involved agencies while upholding the climate assessment requirements. The scientific community remains apprehensive about the future of this critical evaluation of climate change impacts in the United States.
