So, like, every few years for the past 25 years, the big shots at the federal government have been putting out this huge report on how climate change is messing with the country. States, local governments, businesses, farmers, and a bunch of other folks use this National Climate Assessment to get ready for hotter temperatures, more crazy weather, and like, worse disasters such as wildfires.
But get this, on Monday, the Trump administration dropped a bombshell on over 400 volunteer scientists and experts working on the next assessment. They basically told them, “You’re out!” A short memo said they were rethinking the scope of the report because of some Congressional stuff. Real smooth, guys.
This move throws the National Climate Assessment, which was supposed to come out in late 2027 or early 2028, into even more chaos. Earlier this month, the Trump crew also cut funding for the U.S. Global Change Research Program, the office that puts the report together and helps coordinate research from a bunch of government agencies.
Rachel Cleetus, a big shot at the Union of Concerned Scientists, was one of the experts who got the boot on Monday. She and her buddies had just finished outlining a chapter about coastlines, talking about how rising sea levels could mess up communities and cities.
“It was a real honor, and I was excited to help out,” Cleetus said. “This kind of science is what people need to get ready for climate change and deal with the problems it’s already causing.”
Cleetus called the administration “irresponsible” for ditching hundreds of experts without a backup plan. The memo says they might still get to help out, but who knows? The White House didn’t bother answering questions about it.
Now, legally, only Congress can totally get rid of the National Climate Assessment. But experts think the Trump team might try to put out a watered-down version or even use it to spread misinformation. Not cool, guys.
One idea is that the experts could keep working without federal help, like they did with the National Nature Assessment earlier this year. When the Trump administration shut that down, the authors said they’d keep going and publish their findings anyway.
But Melissa Finucane from the Union of Concerned Scientists says the Nature Assessment was way farther along than the sixth climate report. She thinks it would be impossible for a small group to handle all the work needed for the assessment. “I hope the work can keep going, but let’s be realistic,” she said.
Dave White from Arizona State University says there are other climate reports out there that could fill in for the National Climate Assessment. But he’s bummed that American communities might lose out on the info and tools from the assessment.
So, yeah, things are up in the air for the National Climate Assessment. Who knows what will happen next? But one thing’s for sure, the experts who were working on it won’t give up without a fight.
