Federal Climate Science Website Taken Down, Raising Transparency Concerns

The dismantling of the U.S. government's main climate change website, including access to the National Climate Assessment, has alarmed scientists and officials who warn it limits public access to vital environmental risk data.

• By Stasia DeMarco
• Jul 01, 2025

President Donald Trump signed an executive order in May aimed at restoring what the White House calls the “Gold Standard of Science,” directing federal agencies to adopt stricter standards for scientific research used in policymaking — a move that is expected to have major consequences for environmental regulation.

In a related development, the Trump administration also dismantled the U.S. government’s primary public climate change website in June, eliminating access to the National Climate Assessment and other scientific resources. According to the Los Angeles Times, “the move signals a deliberate shift away from federal climate transparency,” with experts warning that “local officials, researchers and the public will be left in the dark on critical risk data for heatwaves, floods, and infrastructure planning.”

Read the full LA Times report

The executive order emphasizes transparency, reproducibility, and public access to scientific data, requiring agencies to make research available “to the maximum extent permitted by law.” While the administration says the directive will restore trust in federal science, critics argue it could sideline longstanding environmental studies, especially those involving confidential health data or complex climate modeling.

Regulatory bodies like the Environmental Protection Agency are expected to be most impacted, as they reassess how scientific evidence is used to set standards under the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and other major environmental laws. Environmental advocates warn that the new standards may delay, or derail regulations aimed at mitigating pollution and climate risk.

“This is not just about restoring trust in science — it’s about controlling which science is allowed to inform policy,” said one environmental policy analyst.

The order also mandates a sweeping review of existing scientific practices across federal agencies, raising the possibility that regulations implemented under past administrations could be reconsidered or rolled back.

While supporters view the order as a step toward scientific rigor and accountability, opponents argue that it could undercut the federal government’s capacity to address long-term environmental challenges at a critical time.