In brief
The move could significantly stall the National Climate Assessment, a critical report mandated by Congress that evaluates the impacts of climate change across various sectors in the U.S.
The Trump administration has taken the controversial step of dismissing hundreds of scientists and experts engaged in preparing the National Climate Assessment, the government's primary report on climate change impacts. This decision casts doubt on the future of the assessment, which is mandated by Congress to review how climate change affects public health, agriculture, and the economy, among other critical areas.Since the year 2000, the National Climate Assessment has been published periodically, with the most recent edition released in 2023. It serves as an essential resource for state and local governments as well as private enterprises, aiding them in their preparations for climate-related disasters such as floods, droughts, and heatwaves.On Monday, email notifications were sent to researchers nationwide who were working on the sixth assessment, slated for release in early 2028. The correspondence indicated that the scope of the report was being "re-evaluated" and announced the termination of all contributors’ roles. The message stated, “We are now releasing all current assessment participants from their roles. As plans develop for the assessment, there may be future opportunities to contribute or engage. Thank you for your service.”For many involved, this abrupt dismissal was seen as a crippling setback to the next report's progress. Jesse Keenan, a climate adaptation expert at Tulane University who contributed to the previous assessment, noted, “This is as close as it gets to a termination of the assessment. If you get rid of all the people involved, nothing’s moving forward.” This drastic change has left experts and stakeholders deeply concerned about the potential implications for climate policy and preparedness in the United States.
