Trump's climate stance alarms scientists as second term looms

Scientists at the American Geophysical Union conference fear threats to climate research under a second Trump presidency, including censorship, funding cuts agency upheavals.

Zack Colman and Chelsea Harvey report for POLITICO.

In short:

Researchers worry Trump’s return could mean dismantling or weakening federal climate programs.
Project 2025, a conservative blueprint, proposes deep budget cuts and reorganizations of agencies like NOAA and EPA.
Many anticipate censorship of climate-related terms, potential layoffs shifts in scientific priorities.

Key quote:

“There are definitely going to be some bad things happening for science policy, science workers, the scientific enterprise at large.”

— Caitlin Bergstrom, the American Geophysical Union’s program manager for science policy and government relations

Why this matters:

Federal climate research informs policies protecting public health and the environment. Disruptions could hinder our understanding of climate change and slow efforts to mitigate its impacts. A rollback in funding or suppression of data could leave communities unprepared for accelerating climate threats.

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