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3/18/2026
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Universities Sue Trump Admin Over Plan to Dismantle Top Climate Lab, Allege Retaliation

Universities Sue Trump Admin Over Plan to Dismantle Top Climate Lab, Allege Retaliation
AI-Generated Summary

A coalition of universities has filed a federal lawsuit to block the Trump administration's plan to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), one of the world's premier climate and weather research labs located in Boulder, Colorado. The lawsuit, filed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) which manages NCAR, alleges the administration's move is 'arbitrary and capricious' and constitutes illegal political retaliation against the state of Colorado. The legal challenge specifically claims the effort to break up the lab and sell off its assets—including its landmark Mesa Laboratory building, weather modeling capabilities, and atmospheric observation platforms—is retribution for Colorado Governor Jared Polis's refusal to grant clemency to Tina Peters. Peters, a former county clerk and election denier backed by former President Trump, was convicted for her role in a 2020 voting equipment security breach. The lawsuit argues the administration's 'ultimate goal is to destroy NCAR entirely' as part of this feud. Scientists and research advocates warn that dismantling NCAR would cripple a critical national asset. The center's research underpins emergency planning, disaster response, and fundamental understanding of climate change and severe weather. The lawsuit portrays the administration's actions as a dangerous politicization of science, targeting a non-partisan research institution responsible for cutting-edge atmospheric science. The legal battle sets the stage for a high-stakes conflict over the future of federal climate research. UCAR and its member universities are seeking a court order to halt the proposed sell-off and dismantling, arguing it violates administrative law and represents an abuse of power driven by political motives rather than sound policy.

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Sources

UCAR sues its partners to block Trump administration’s “arbitrary and capricious” selloff of Boulder NCAR lab

coloradosun.com
50%

Termination of a multimillion-dollar ... to fund climate adaptation and mitigation research · Writing an open letter to private companies offering to let them manage NCAR’s “space weather activities, weather modeling capabilities and atmospheric observation platforms” · Soliciting interest in the ownership of NCAR’s landmark Mesa Laboratory building in Boulder for either private or public use · “The agencies’ ultimate goal is to destroy NCAR entirely,” the lawsuit ...

How Tina Peters Is Threatening Cutting-Edge Climate Research

talkingpointsmemo.com
50%

The nonprofit consortium that runs the National Center for Atmospheric Research has sued the Trump administration to block its effort to tear apart the premier U.S. weather and climate lab — and it fronted the wacky Tina Peters connection in its lawsuit.

Universities Sue Trump Administration Over Plan to Dismantle Key Climate Research Center – [your]NEWS

yournews.com
50%

A coalition of universities has filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's plan to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research, alleging a politically motivated campaign targeting the state of Colorado.

Trump Administration Proposes to Dismantle Renowned Climate and Weather Research Center - Boulder Today

nationaltoday.com
50%

The Trump administration's push to dismantle NCAR, one of the world's leading climate and weather research centers, raises concerns about the politicization of science and the potential loss of critical research capabilities that support emergency planning, disaster response, and understanding ...

UCAR sues Trump administration, says effort to dismantle Boulder climate lab NCAR is retaliation

boulderreportinglab.org
50%

Lawsuit alleges federal efforts to break up climate research center is retaliation against Colorado after Gov. Jared Polis refused clemency for election official Tina Peters. ... The Trump administration has proposed dismantling the Boulder headquarters of the National Center for Atmospheric ...

Lawsuit challenges Trump administration plan to dismantle largest climate research lab in US

www.nbcnews.com
50%

A group of universities that oversee the country’s largest federal climate research center filed a lawsuit Monday challenging the Trump administration’s attempts to dismantle the lab.

Lawsuit alleges breakup of federal climate lab was tied to Trump’s feud with Colorado

www.yahoo.com
50%

A new lawsuit opposing the breakup of a federal climate and weather lab alleges that the move is part of a Trump administration retribution effort against the state of Colorado. The University Corpora...

Admin Targeted NCAR Climate Lab in Effort to Free Trump Denier Ally: Suit | SEJ

www.sej.org
50%

"The Trump administration has targeted a climate and weather research lab as retribution against Colorado officials for imprisoning a county clerk backed by the president who was convicted of helping election deniers meddle with voting equipment in 2020, a lawsuit filed Monday by the lab’s ...

UCAR sues Trump administration, says effort to dismantle Boulder climate lab NCAR is retaliation

boulderreportinglab.org
50%

Lawsuit alleges federal efforts to break up climate research center is retaliation against Colorado after Gov. Jared Polis refused clemency for election official Tina Peters.

US universities sue to block Trump administration from dismantling top climate research centre - TRT World

trtworld.com
50%

Universities overseeing the largest federally funded climate research centre in the US filed a lawsuit on Monday to block the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the lab.

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