Boulder scientists pin last hopes for NOAA on Congress

Boulder’s CIRES director Waleed Abdalati hopes Congress will reject proposed cuts to NOAA funding, which could severely impact the institute’s operations. The Trump administration's budget plan threatens to eliminate support for CIRES and another cooperative institute in Colorado, both of which partner with NOAA. Abdalati stated that while the cuts wouldn't end operations, they would significantly harm the institute and national interests, particularly given that CIRES relies on NOAA for about 60% of its funding. Approximately 400 of the 900 employees work at NOAA labs in Boulder. U.

S. Rep. Joe Neguse, representing the district that includes both cooperative institutes, leads a coalition of 23 lawmakers opposing these funding cuts, asserting that their implementation would cause irreversible damage. Historically, Congress has supported cooperative institutes, and Abdalati remains hopeful that this trend will continue. He highlighted that the uncertainty surrounding funding proposals has negatively affected workers' morale, making it challenging for them to concentrate on their research.

Abdalati concluded by emphasizing that rebuilding a scientific enterprise after such cuts is not a simple task.