A critical program supporting climate scientists in the U.S. is experiencing notable disruptions, leading to unpaid leaves for researchers, as funding delays threaten its future. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) runs the Climate and Global Change Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, which has flourished since 1991 and has supported over 230 researchers in their endeavors to advance climate science.
Participants in the fellowship program and emails reviewed indicate that the situation became dire following the Trump administration’s budget cuts, which targeted funding for climate initiatives across several federal bodies. This year, despite completing the selection process for new fellows, no offers were extended, reflecting a climate of uncertainty due to inadequate funding.
On July 9, 2025, 10 researchers received notices about their unpaid leave, effective through September, leaving many frustrated. Lilian Dove, an oceanographer at Brown University and a fellowship recipient impacted by this decision, voiced her disappointment, emphasizing the importance of funding crucial scientific research that enhances our understanding of climate dynamics.
The funding interruptions have caused interruptions in vital projects, such as Dove’s work on the Southern Ocean's role in heating and carbon storage, which is pivotal for the global climate model. Many fellows collaborate with international researchers, and their halted work leaves colleagues to progress alone in their respective studies of wildfires, extreme rainfall, polar climate change, and more.
