Federal climate website goes offline as Trump administration moves climate assessments to NASA and promises a policy reset.

Federal Climate Resources Vanish Amid Policy Overhaul

This week, the U.S. federal government’s primary climate change website, which has long provided access to the congressionally-mandated National Climate Assessments, became inaccessible without explanation. The site, maintained by the U.S. Global Change Research Program, has hosted five major climate reports published every four years, offering peer-reviewed analyses of climate impacts across the United States.

The disappearance follows an announcement from the White House that future climate reports will be made available through the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). However, as of Tuesday, searches for these assessments on NASA’s site yielded no results, according to The Associated Press. No referrals or guidance were posted to redirect users or policymakers seeking the data.

Policy Reset Promised, Scientists Raise Concerns

The move comes amid a broader policy reset by the Trump administration on climate issues. In March, Energy Secretary Chris Wright declared a new direction at the S&P Global CERAWeek conference in Houston, calling the administration’s stance one of “climate realism.” Wright stated, “The Trump administration will treat climate change for what it is, a global physical phenomenon that is a side effect of building the modern world,” marking a break from what officials describe as “politically polarizing” Biden-era policies.

Federal agencies began overhauling and rebranding their online presence in February, scrubbing websites of content deemed not in line with the new administration’s approach to climate change. The White House and NASA have not responded to requests for comment on the ongoing changes or the status of the missing climate data.

Many scientists have expressed concern about the loss of direct access to the National Climate Assessments. University of Arizona climate scientist Kathy Jacobs emphasized the reports’ value for public safety and decision-making: “It’s critical for decision-makers across the country to know what the science in the National Climate Assessment is. That is the most reliable and well-reviewed source of information about climate that exists for the United States.”

As the Trump administration continues its effort to shift climate policy and messaging, it remains unclear when or if the national climate reports will be restored for public access through NASA or any other federal agency. The development has left many policymakers, researchers, and concerned citizens searching for answers at a pivotal moment for climate action in the United States.