The Commerce Department on Tuesday canceled nearly $4 million in federal support for climate research initiatives at Princeton University, saying the long-standing collaborations “are no longer aligned with the program objectives of NOAA” or the Trump administration’s broader priorities.
In a release, Commerce said it would end support effective June 30 for three Princeton-based initiatives “after a detailed, careful and thorough review of the department’s financial assistance programs.” The review concluded three initiatives were promoting “narratives” that exaggerate human risks from climate warming and foster “climate anxiety” among younger Americans.
The cancellations, while relatively small compared to the billions of dollars in cuts to environmental programs across the federal government, are consistent with President Donald Trump’s pledge to eliminate government spending on climate research that runs counter to his views on the issue, which are grounded in climate denialism.
They are also aligned with the Project 2025 policy blueprint authored by the conservative Heritage Foundation that advocates purging climate science efforts among government agencies that probe how warming temperatures could have increasingly profound impacts on human livability. Such questions are central to mainstream climate research, particularly around climate adaptation and resilience.
