Trump Administration Dismisses Scientists Working on National Climate Assessment
The Trump administration has terminated over 400 authors working on the National Climate Assessment, raising concerns over the report's scientific integrity and future.
The dismissal of the report's authors is one of a series of actions by the administration targeting climate science since Inauguration Day.
Trump cuts reach climate scientists who labored for free
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Even more so than the first Trump administration, the current one is treating climate science as a mixture of being ideologically motivated and scam-adjacent.
Trump’s National Climate Assessment: No funding and all authors cut loose
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The move will allow the administration to either skip the congressionally mandated report altogether, or pursue an alternative, potentially far more skeptical take on what is otherwise widely accepted climate science.
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The assessments help Americans "understand how climate change is impacting their daily lives already and what to expect in the future," said Rachel Cleetus, one of the researchers who was dismissed.
Trump Dismisses Scientists Writing Key Climate Report
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Summary
In a controversial move, the Trump administration has dismissed all scientists working on the forthcoming National Climate Assessment, which is mandated by Congress to evaluate climate impacts in the U.S. This action raises serious questions about the report's future and potential adherence to scientific standards. The assessment has traditionally been a comprehensive overview aiding local officials in understanding climate risks. Critics worry that this dismissal could open the door to pseudoscientific claims, undermining essential data on climate change effects in the U.S. The next report is due by 2028, and the process has already faced significant disruptions.
Perspectives
Both the Trump administration and Congress are mandated to produce the National Climate Assessment, which informs on climate impacts on the U.S.
The dismissal of over 400 scientists from the assessment poses risks to its credibility and the ability to address climate-related issues effectively.
There is ongoing debate over the potential political interference with scientific reports, raising concerns over future climate policy and preparedness.