Two federally funded science agencies in Colorado revamped to align with administration priorities

By EPN Staff

Federal agencies in December 2025 made changes to two science laboratories to reflect the Trump Administration’s commitment to a more inclusive energy policy. 

The U.S. National Science Foundation plans to restructure the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) by shifting its core responsibilities, such as weather modeling and supercomputing, to another agency or location. An administration official said in recent years the Boulder-based laboratory has exceeded its founding purpose by embracing climate alarmism. 

Additionally, the Department of Energy renamed the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden the “National Laboratory of the Rockies.” The administration says the new name better reflects the broader focus of the lab’s research, which includes not only renewable energy but also research into the nation’s other abundant energy sources, such as oil, natural gas, and coal.

Why it matters

Since its creation in 1960 to better understand weather, NCAR has built supercomputers, advanced radar systems and other tools to improve weather predictions. With rising interest in climate change, Congress doubled NCAR’s budget over the years and the agency’s focus broadened beyond its founding purpose according to PBS.  

“This facility is one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country. A comprehensive review is underway and any vital activities such as weather research will be moved to another entity or location,” Russ Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, told USA TODAY. 

Officials say one example of wasteful spending is NCAR’s Rising Voices Center for Indigenous and Earth Science that seeks to “make the sciences more welcoming, inclusive, and justice-centered.” The lab has also used taxpayer funding to vilify motor vehicles and the use of fossil fuels, a White House official told USA TODAY. 

The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), a nonprofit consortium of 129 universities and colleges, manages NCAR. The lab has 830 employees.

Weeks before announcing the reconfiguration of NCAR, the Department of Energy announced it renamed the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) the ‘National Laboratory of the Rockies.’ The agency said, “We are no longer picking and choosing energy sources. Our highest priority is to invest in the scientific capabilities that will restore American manufacturing, drive down costs, and help this country meet its soaring energy demand. The National Laboratory of the Rockies will play a vital role in those efforts.” NREL was established during the 1973 oil crisis. 

The bigger picture

In December, the administration also announced the cancellation of $109 green transportation grants Colorado intended for research into powering rail vehicles with hydrogen and natural gas and for boosting the use of electric vehicles and rapid transit buses. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has launched a lawsuit to reinstate the money Colorado Public Radio reported.

In response to the dismantling of NCAR, Colorado’s U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper blocked passage of the spending package that would fund much of the federal government from Jan. 30, 2026, through Sept. 2026. Bennet also opposed the renaming of NREL and hoped the agency would “continue its groundbreaking work to achieve an affordable, net-zero energy economy,” under the new name.