The Trump administration has recently taken down a federal website that provided critical information on climate change. This action has sparked strong criticism from scientists who warn that it could severely affect the country’s ability to respond to increasing environmental threats like droughts, floods, and heat waves.
The U.S. Global Change Research Program’s website, globalchange.gov, was shut down along with all five versions of the National Climate Assessment report. These documents were mandated by Congress and served as essential resources detailing how global warming is impacting the United States.
Peter Gleick, a prominent climate scientist from California, expressed his outrage, calling the move a form of “scientific censorship.” He likened it to “book burning,” stating that while the reports will still be accessible through other means, they will be much harder for the public to find.
The White House has not commented on the website’s removal. In May, President Trump signed an executive order claiming his administration aims to promote transparency and scientific rigor in federally funded research. However, he also criticized previous climate assessments for relying on “worst-case scenarios” based on unlikely assumptions.
The U.S. Global Change Research Program was established in 1990 and is required to produce climate assessments every four years. In April, the Trump administration dismissed hundreds of scientists who were working on the latest assessment, raising concerns about the future of climate research.
Katharine Hayhoe, a climate scientist at Texas Tech University and a contributor to previous assessments, stressed the importance of this information. She noted that it helps various stakeholders, from farmers to city managers, make informed decisions about the future.
The website had offered over 200 publications, including annual reports to Congress and studies on various topics like agriculture and human health. It also featured interactive resources that illustrated the potential effects of climate change.
As climate change accelerates, experts emphasize the need for accurate and accessible information. Hayhoe warned that without proper assessments, the nation may struggle to understand and address the latest climate threats.
The removal of the globalchange.gov website follows another shutdown of a climate-related site maintained by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Critics, including Gleick, argue that these actions appear to be part of a broader effort to obscure important scientific data from the public.
The future of climate assessment reports remains uncertain, as scientists seek clarity on how the Trump administration plans to proceed with these crucial evaluations.