Major climate change reports vanish from US federal websites, raising transparency concerns
Federal climate reports that help communities plan for extreme weather and rising seas have quietly disappeared from public websites, with little explanation from the Trump administration.
Seth Borenstein reports for The Associated Press.
In short:
- National Climate Assessments and other key data have been removed from their official websites, with no clear explanation or replacement links, despite being required by law.
- NASA is reportedly taking over the data hosting, but searches on its websites turn up nothing, and federal agencies have not responded to inquiries.
- Climate scientists warn the missing reports hinder local governments’ ability to prepare for climate risks like flooding, wildfires, and health threats.
Key quote:
“It’s a sad day for the United States if it is true that the National Climate Assessment is no longer available.”
— Kathy Jacobs, climate scientist, University of Arizona
Why this matters:
Local governments rely on federally published climate data to prepare for worsening storms, heat waves, droughts, and rising sea levels. The National Climate Assessment — compiled by multiple federal agencies and reviewed by the National Academy of Sciences — provides county-level insights that influence decisions like where to build, how to protect vulnerable infrastructure, and how to safeguard public health. Pulling this information offline not only disrupts emergency preparedness but also weakens public understanding of climate change impacts, especially in communities already at greater risk. Scientists see it as part of a broader rollback of environmental transparency and say it could cost lives. Without access to the best available science, cities and states are left guessing as they face an increasingly unpredictable climate.
Read more: Trump administration fires climate.gov team, leaving federal climate science site in limbo
