Overview
- UCAR filed suit in U.S. District Court for Colorado seeking injunctions to stop the breakup, restore canceled agreements, lift alleged gag orders, and block the transfer of NCAR’s Wyoming supercomputing center.
- The lawsuit names the National Science Foundation, NOAA, the Department of Commerce, and the Office of Management and Budget, alleging violations of the Administrative Procedure Act and unlawful reporting demands.
- Specific actions cited include termination of a multimillion-dollar NOAA cooperative agreement, solicitation for private management of NCAR functions, and outreach on potential ownership changes for the Boulder Mesa Laboratory.
- UCAR argues the moves would erode U.S. capabilities in weather, climate, and space-weather modeling with risks to national security, public safety, and economic interests.
- The case follows a December announcement by the White House budget office to break up NCAR and a January NSF notice on restructuring, while agencies declined comment and Rep. Joe Neguse initiated a congressional inquiry.