TCC Statement — The Climate Consensus

Defunding Science in a Time of Crisis

Why Federal Climate and Atmospheric Research Must Be Protected

A Statement from The Climate Consensus on the Urgent Need to Preserve Federal Climate Science and the Agencies that Serve the Public

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Over the past several months, we have witnessed a massive, alarming effort to reduce the workforce and funding of critical government entities. This includes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and its line offices such as the National Weather Service (NWS), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Energy (DOE), and potentially even the elimination of the U.S. Global Change Research Program (Colman 2025). At The Climate Consensus, we strongly oppose these cuts.

These agencies provide vital climate data, satellite observations, research, public warnings, and resources that are essential for protecting life and property, supporting local economies, and informing national security, agriculture, energy planning, and disaster response. Today, their role is more vital than ever: over the past decade alone, 90% of American counties have been impacted by extreme weather disasters (NOAA Research 2025, Federal Emergency Management Agency 2025).

Despite these essential missions, a recent proposal from the Office of Management and Budget would eliminate NOAA’s Oceanic and Atmospheric Research office, along with its 10 research laboratories and 16 affiliated Cooperative Institutes. The 2026 budget passback calls for “significant reductions to education, grants, research, and climate-related programs within NOAA” (Office of Management and Budget 2025, The New York Times 2025). In parallel, other agencies are also under threat: climate-related grants from the National Parks Service face elimination, and funding for the U.S. Geological Survey, Department of Energy, and Department of Defense is facing sharp cuts (USA Today, 2025, The New York Times 2025). These moves would undermine forecasting capabilities, slow innovation, widen knowledge gaps, and result in the loss of tens of thousands of U.S. jobs. In short: it would decimate U.S. climate research at a time when we can least afford it.

These threats come at a time when the world has surpassed a new warming record in 2024 (World Meteorological Organization 2025), and the frequency of billion-dollar disasters continues to climb (National Centers for Environmental Information [NCEI] 2025). According to NOAA's NCEI, the U.S. has experienced 403 weather and climate disasters since 1980, each exceeding $1 billion in damages. The total cost of these events now exceeds $2.945 trillion. In the past four years (2020-2024), the average number of such disasters has surged from nine per year (historical average) to 23. In 2024 alone, 27 billion-dollar caused approximately $182.7 billion in damages, making it one of the costliest years on record. The economic toll is staggering, and it is growing.

Focusing on climate solutions, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing climate resilience, can help reduce both the frequency and severity of these disasters and improve our capacity to adapt (NCEI 2025). Climate-focused research from NASA, NOAA, and other federal agencies is helping us understand and mitigate these escalating risks. For example, NASA satellites provide critical Earth observations used to monitor sea level rise, greenhouse gas concentrations, wildfire spread, and land surface temperatures. And yet, the trend is toward defunding this vital science.

Alarmingly, NOAA recently announced it will stop tracking the cost of billion-dollar disasters (The New York Times 2025), as it has consistently done since 1980. According to NOAA Communications Director, Kim Doster, this change is due to “evolving priorities, statutory mandates, and staffing changes,” (St. John 2025). This move will hinder insurance companies, researchers, and decision-makers as they try to understand and respond to climate risk. Cutting these climate programs now not only contradicts the agencies’ missions, it risks lives, infrastructure, and economic resilience.

At The Climate Consensus, we believe these cuts are profoundly misguided. Our vision is to close the consensus gap between experts and the broader community on the urgency and impacts of human-caused climate change by promoting constructive dialogue and action across all aspects of society. Without national, authoritative data, as well as resources and coordination across agencies like NOAA, NASA and the USGCRP, our collective ability to inform the public, support resilience efforts, and train the next generation of climate leaders would be severely compromised.

Here are a few key examples of how these agencies have already saved lives and reduced economic losses:

The Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System (HAFS) improves predictions of hurricane strength by 15 - 20%, enabling better hazard communication and more effective community response (NOAA Research 2025).

The Warn-on Forecast System (WoFS) uses machine learning to predict tornadoes earlier. This system enabled 46-minute lead time for the Greenfield, Iowa tornado, far surpassing the average 13 minute warning window (NOAA Research 2025).
NASA’s Earth Observing System (EOS) enables monitoring of global climate patterns, tracking long-term changes in the atmosphere, oceans, and cryosphere (NASA 2022). EOS and the Fire Information Resource Management System (FIRMS) is also critical for providing access to low latency satellite imagery to identify the location, extent and intensity of wildfire activity and its effects (NASA 2025).
Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations Project (FIRO) increased water storage at Lake Mendocino by 18%, providing water security for 22,000 homes during extreme weather events (NOAA Research 2025).
Experimental flood inundation maps being developed by NOAA and the NWS allow emergency managers to issue earlier, more targeted flood warnings (NOAA 2025).

At the Climate Consensus, our mission is to facilitate productive dialog between experts and the public across all areas of climate science. We are frequently asked about the role of federal climate agencies and how their work affects daily life. Some of the most common questions include:

Can’t a private company like AccuWeather or The Weather Channel replace the National Weather Service (NWS)?

You see a 7-day outlook on your favorite weather app, but where did it come from? Much of the data that went into making that forecast came from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA). Computer models are used to make the forecast that you see, and a vast network of weather observations on land, in the ocean, and throughout the atmosphere provide the data to allow the supercomputers to make accurate predictions. And, funding for NOAA/NWS allows for these supercomputers to be run. Every private weather company relies heavily upon NOAA and NWS data to produce the forecasts that you see on your weather app. Further, the NWS provides hazardous weather warnings behind the scenes before it shows up in your app or on the local news channel. Be that fire weather, winter weather, severe thunderstorms, hurricanes, or otherwise, that weather alert that told you to take action came from the NWS. And how much does all of this cost you right now? Less than $4 per year (ForecastWatch 2025, Wiedinmyer et al. 2025).

How does climate science affect my everyday life?

Climate science is critical for understanding and mitigating the effects of climate change in the future. But, how does it impact your everyday life? Climate prediction is more than predicting climate change, it is also seasonal and monthly forecasts produced by the Climate Prediction Center (CPC). These forecasts are important for farmers for example attempting to plan for a growing season. Other responsibilities include drought monitoring and forecasting, and stratospheric observations are used to produce UV forecasts that people use to plan outdoor activities appropriately (Lowrey 2005).

What statements have other climate-focused organizations made in light of the current federal funding cuts?

As part of The Climate Consensus’ effort to highlight the resources of organizations aligned with our mission, we have included links to statements from these other organizations (i.e. American Meteorological Society, American Geophysical Union, Environmental Defense Fund, 350.org). These links can be found at the bottom of our statement.

What Can I Do to Help?

NOAA research is vital for maintaining and improving NWS forecasts and services to the nation. We urge you to reach out to your elected representatives and share your concerns. Consider installing the 5 Calls app on your phone to assist you. To find your Congressional Representative or Senator you can use these resources:

Find Your Representative

Find Your Senator

Protecting NOAA’s workforce, research, and mission is critical to safeguarding our communities and future. At The Climate Consensus, Inc., we are committed to empowering communities, advancing climate education, and promoting actionable, science-based solutions. To help defend NOAA’s critical role and to close the gap between experts and the broader public, visit https://theclimateconsensus.org/ and join us today.

Your voice matters. Together, we can defend science, protect our communities, and build a more resilient future.

Statements from Related Nonprofit Organizations:

American Geophysical Union (AGU):

“AGU Urges U.S. commitment to Climate Science”

https://news.agu.org/press-release/agu-urges-us-commitment-to-climate-science/

“AGU Files New Lawsuit to Protect Hundreds of Thousands of Federal Workers”

https://news.agu.org/press-release/agu-lawsuit-federal-workforce-reduction/

American Meteorological Society (AMS):

“Without a Strong Weather Enterprise America's Economic Leadership Is at Risk”

https://www.ametsoc.org/ams/about-ams/ams-statements/statements-of-the-ams-in-force/without-a-strong-weather-enterprise-americas-economic-leadership-is-at-risk/

“Stand Up for NOAA Research – The Time to Act is Now”

https://www.ametsoc.org/ams/about-ams/ams-statements/statements-of-the-ams-in-force/stand-up-for-noaa-research-the-time-to-act-is-now/