The US government’s climate change website, Climate.gov, is at risk of shutting down due to funding cuts. Most staff charged with maintaining the site were fired on May 31, according to The Guardian. The website is funded through a large NOAA contract that also includes other programs.
NOAA manager revealed that there was a directive from above demanding the removal of funding for the 10-person climate.gov team. The fate of the website had been debated among staff for months, with some arguing for its removal and others defending it.
Climate.gov operated independently, providing non-partisan climate information to the public. However, the move has sparked concerns that the site may be used to spread anti-science content and misinformation. This is part of a broader trend of anti-science actions from the Trump Administration, including blocking EPA science funding and removing access to NOAA datasets.
Experts warn that shutting down Climate.gov will not stop climate change but will make the US less prepared for its impacts. The move comes as the administration continues to undermine scientific research and transparency.
Source: https://eos.org/research-and-developments/noaas-climate-website-may-soon-shut-down