Two prominent environmental and scientific groups have launched legal action against federal agencies in Washington, seeking disclosure of records they say have been withheld about plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). The Union of Concerned Scientists and the Environmental Defense Fund, represented by Earthjustice, filed the lawsuit after repeated Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) produced no substantive responses.
What the plaintiffs say
The organisations contend that NCAR — a government-funded centre that integrates observations, modelling, supercomputing and applied research — is being targeted for elimination of its climate research functions. NCAR’s work, they say, supports operational weather forecasting, aviation safety, flood risk assessment, agricultural planning and national defence, and has provided critical advances in understanding extreme storms and long-term climate change.
“For more than six decades, NCAR has provided life-saving weather and climate science that helps protect people and communities from extreme storms while strengthening our economy and national security,”
The plaintiffs argue that such a loss would have demonstrable consequences for public safety and economic resilience and that, because NCAR is taxpayer-funded, the public is entitled to the internal deliberations and rationale behind any decision to restructure or dismantle it. In filings and public statements, Earthjustice and the environmental groups say the administration cannot lawfully hide records of its decision-making on an issue of such public importance.
Who is involved
The suit names the NSF and the OMB as defendants and was brought by the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Environmental Defense Fund, with legal representation by Earthjustice. The groups have previously submitted multiple FOIA requests seeking documents related to the reported moves affecting NCAR; they say they have received no meaningful responses to date.
| Organisation | Role |
|---|---|
| Union of Concerned Scientists | Plaintiff |
| Environmental Defense Fund | Plaintiff |
| Earthjustice | Legal counsel for plaintiffs |
| National Science Foundation (NSF) | Defendant |
| Office of Management and Budget (OMB) | Defendant |
Why NCAR matters
NCAR has been described by the plaintiffs as a national research asset whose science contributes to a wide range of applications — from near-term operational forecasts that protect lives during severe weather to longer-term insights into the risks posed by climate change. The groups say its removal or the stripping of its climate functions would be tantamount to losing a public good that underpins emergency preparedness and economic planning.
Representatives quoted by the plaintiffs emphasised the practical consequences of weakened climate and atmospheric research. Erin Murphy of the Environmental Defense Fund said NCAR’s work “helps us understand the impacts of climate change and keeps Americans safe and prepared in the face of dangerous storms, fires and floods.” Hana Vizcarra of Earthjustice characterised the administration’s actions as an attempt to conceal decision-making.
Next steps and broader implications
The lawsuit seeks judicial orders compelling the NSF and OMB to produce the requested records. If successful, the case would illuminate the agencies’ internal discussions and any plans affecting NCAR’s structure and research mandate. A failure to obtain records would leave unresolved questions about how and why major decisions about federal science infrastructure are being taken and communicated to the public.
- Transparency at stake: The case centres on whether federal agencies must disclose documents about restructuring a major research centre.
- Public safety concerns: Plaintiffs argue NCAR’s functions directly support forecasts and warnings that save lives and protect infrastructure.
- Legal remedy: Plaintiffs are seeking court orders forcing the agencies to release FOIA-responsive materials.
At the time of publication, neither the NSF nor the OMB had issued a public response to the lawsuit released by the plaintiffs. The litigation marks a rare, high-profile legal challenge related to the governance of a federally funded research facility and highlights tensions between executive branch discretion and public access to records about science and security-related institutions.
The outcome will be closely watched by researchers, state and local emergency planners, and businesses that rely on federal climate and weather data — all of whom depend on the continuity and accessibility of the scientific infrastructure NCAR provides.
