Climate Playbook Erased? National Climate Assessments Go Dark Online
In a stunning development that has alarmed scientists and policy experts, the legally mandated US National Climate Assessments—vital resources for understanding the impacts of climate change—have vanished from official federal websites.
Until recently, these peer-reviewed reports were publicly accessible and widely used by state and local governments, emergency planners, and developers to guide decisions ranging from flood defenses to wildfire strategies. Now, the federal web pages that housed them are inaccessible, with no forwarding links or official explanations—just dead ends.
“This is evidence of serious tampering with the facts and with people’s access to information,” said Kathy Jacobs, University of Arizona climate scientist and former coordinator of the 2014 assessment. “It may increase the risk of people being harmed by climate-related impacts.”
What Are the National Climate Assessments – And Why Do They Matter?
The National Climate Assessment (NCA) is a comprehensive report required every four years under the 1990 Global Change Research Act. It synthesizes the latest peer-reviewed science to inform policymakers and the public about how climate change is affecting the United States.
Unlike global reports produced by the UN, these assessments zoom into county-level detail, offering localized insights for cities, counties, and tribal governments. The latest report, released in 2023, included an interactive atlas tracking risks to health, infrastructure, food security, and the economy, especially among marginalized communities.
“It’s the most reliable and well-reviewed source of information about climate that exists for the United States,” said Jacobs.
Missing in Action – Where Did the Reports Go?
As of Monday and Tuesday this week, the websites for both the National Climate Assessments and the US Global Change Research Program were offline. Federal officials offered little clarity. A White House spokesperson stated that the materials will be housed under NASA “to comply with the law” but provided no timeline or links.
Attempts to search for the reports on NASA’s websites turned up nothing. NASA and NOAA—key agencies involved in the assessments—declined to respond to multiple media inquiries.
“This is a government resource paid for by the taxpayer,” said Katharine Hayhoe, climate scientist at Texas Tech and long-time NCA author. “Cities, states, and federal agencies rely on this to plan for the future.”
Science Suppressed? Experts Cry Foul
Climate experts are sounding the alarm. John Holdren, Harvard scientist and science adviser to President Obama, said the reports were instrumental in helping communities make data-driven decisions—such as moving hospital generators above ground to avoid flooding.
“This is part of a horrifying big picture,” said Holdren. “It’s an appalling demolition of our science infrastructure.”
Jacobs warned the erasure of these assessments amounts to “censorship of science”, while Hayhoe compared it to “steering into a curve while staring into the rearview mirror”.
Signs of a Wider Purge? Cuts Across Climate Communications
The disappearance of these assessments follows a series of moves by the Trump administration to dismantle climate science infrastructure:
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In spring 2025, the White House disbanded the volunteer author team for the next assessment.
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Contracts were terminated with the private firm that maintained the assessment’s digital platform.
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NOAA’s main climate.gov site has been redirected, while climate blogs and social media content were removed.
This mirrors a similar pattern seen during Trump’s first term, when climate tools and data sets were erased or buried, including a newly developed tool for assessing extreme weather risks.
The Fallout – Who Gets Hurt?
The real-world consequences of this information blackout could be catastrophic. Without access to current, localized climate data:
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Urban planners may be unaware of flood or heat risks when designing critical infrastructure.
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Emergency managers may lack the forecasting tools needed to prepare for hurricanes, wildfires, or droughts.
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Rural communities, tribal nations, and coastal towns—often disproportionately affected by climate change—may be left vulnerable.
“When fundamental data is hidden or lost, it’s the public who pays the price,” said Jacobs.
A Legal Obligation Ignored?
The removal of these reports may also violate federal law. The Global Change Research Act mandates that a National Climate Assessment be published every four years and that a functioning United States Global Change Research Program exists to coordinate interagency climate efforts.
While the White House claims it is in compliance by transferring duties to NASA, the lack of transparency, combined with inaction on replacements, has raised red flags among legal and scientific observers alike.
A Nation Flying Blind?
At a time when record heatwaves, flash floods, and wildfires are hitting communities across the U.S., stripping away access to climate reports is being called not just irresponsible, but potentially deadly.
“Now, more than ever, we need to be looking ahead,” said Hayhoe. “It’s like our windshield is being painted over.”
For communities trying to plan their future in a warming world, the message from the administration appears clear: You’re on your own.
