Trump administration fails to deliver on climate change report promises

In early July 2025, the Trump administration made significant changes to how climate change reports are shared with the public in the United States. Previously, important national climate assessments were available on official government websites, providing critical information on climate change impacts to state and local governments as well as to the public. However, the White House’s promises to host these reports on NASA’s website were not fulfilled. NASA Press Secretary Bethany Stevens stated that NASA has no legal obligation to host the data from the U.S. Global Change Research Program, effectively withdrawing from its earlier commitment to provide continuity in reporting. The closure of the globalchange.gov site caused initial outrage as the public lost access to vital scientific assessments regarding climate change, which highlight its dangers and necessary adaptive measures. Many expert commentators, including former Obama White House science adviser John Holdren, criticized the administration for misdirection and suggested that it intentionally sought to censor essential information about the consequences of climate change. Reports had previously provided detailed accounts of how climate change was affecting various regions, especially vulnerable communities such as Native Americans, who are often disproportionately impacted by environmental changes. Renowned climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe emphasized the importance of these documents as they are taxpayer-funded and written to protect the public. She noted that these reports contain life-saving information related to climate risks that Americans face in their daily lives. Critics fear that the Trump administration's actions will prevent individuals and local officials from understanding and preparing for the effects of climate change, worsening an already dire global situation. The implications of defunding climate science from the public view are profound. As natural disasters become increasingly common due to climate change, access to well-researched, comprehensive assessments is more vital than ever. The lack of transparency from the government indicates a potential strategy to minimize public awareness and concern regarding climate issues, leaving local governments without essential guidance in addressing these threats. The administration’s actions have raised alarm among environmentalists, scientists, and those in the policymaking community who stress the importance of accessible climate data for informed decision-making.