The Trump administration has taken down a key government climate research website, igniting outrage among former federal scientists and environmental advocates, ABC News reported Tuesday evening.
The website in question belonged to the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), a federally mandated initiative that published vital information on climate change in the United States. It also hosted all five editions of the National Climate Assessment, a comprehensive report widely referenced by policymakers and scientists.
According to a NASA spokesperson cited in the report, the website is “no longer operational,” marking a significant setback in public access to federal climate data and research. The removal follows the administration’s April announcement to cancel all ongoing research for the sixth edition of the National Climate Assessment, previously scheduled for release in 2028.
All researchers tied to the project have reportedly been dismissed, despite the program being funded by congressional appropriations. Critics argue the move is part of a broader trend by the Trump administration to sidestep laws and undermine government programs it politically opposes. The 1974 Impoundment Control Act prohibits the executive branch from withholding funds legally appropriated by Congress—something administration officials appear to be ignoring.
While Trump officials claim that existing reports will now be hosted directly by NASA, the takedown of the USGCRP website sparked a firestorm within the scientific community. “The National Climate Assessment, and all special reports and past assessments, are now offline.
Federal climate science is being systematically erased,” said Haley Crim, a former climate staffer at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). She added that although the administration hasn’t openly censored climate data as it has with diversity initiatives, “It’s the culmination of expired contracts, decisions about individual products, lack of staffing and resources, and refusal to protect climate information.”
Zach Labe, another former NOAA climate scientist, voiced his alarm on Bluesky, posting, “Every day is a trainwreck for climate science. Stay aware of what is happening, and speak out!” The decision comes amid growing fears that critical scientific data is being dismantled from within. Anticipating actions like this, many experts began archiving vulnerable federal websites earlier this year.
Their focus included not only climate research but also information on LGBTQ rights, AIDS prevention, and racial inclusion—topics they feared would be politically targeted. As concerns mount, scientists warn that the removal of these public resources may have long-term consequences for both environmental policy and scientific transparency in the U.S.