Key Takeaways
- Colorado’s U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper have put a hold on the Senate’s government funding package over the Trump administration’s decision to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder.
- The hold is intended to ensure that funding for NCAR in the budget bill is used to keep it open, rather than canceling it.
- The Trump administration’s decision to dismantle NCAR is seen as retaliation against Colorado for not releasing former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, who is currently serving a nine-year state sentence.
- The move has been met with criticism from Colorado Democrats, who view it as an attack on the state and its scientific community.
- The hold puts a speed bump in plans for quick passage of the bipartisan spending package, which could lead to delays in funding for various government departments.
Introduction to the Issue
The U.S. Senate’s plans to start work on a government funding package before heading home for the holidays have been thrown into disarray by Colorado’s U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper. The two Democrats have put a hold on the so-called mini-bus package over the Trump administration’s decision to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder. This move has sparked a heated debate, with Bennet and Hickenlooper accusing the Trump administration of attacking Colorado and its scientific community.
The Reason Behind the Hold
The hold is intended to ensure that funding for NCAR in the budget bill is used to keep it open, rather than canceling it. Hickenlooper told The Hill that the hold is necessary to protect the important work being done at NCAR, which is a nonpartisan institution that focuses on science, climate adaptation, weather forecasting, and other critical matters. Bennet, who is also running for governor, took to social media to express his opposition to the Trump administration’s decision, saying "when Trump comes after Colorado, we don’t back down, we fight back."
The Trump Administration’s Decision
The Trump administration’s decision to dismantle NCAR was announced by Russ Vought, director of the Office of Management, who claimed that it was "one of the largest sources of climate alarmism in the country." Vought also highlighted two other cuts specifically for Colorado, including the scrapping of $109 million in environmental transportation grants and $615 million in Department of Energy grant funding. Many Colorado Democrats view the move as retaliation against the state for not handing over or releasing former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, who is currently serving a nine-year state sentence for orchestrating a breach of her county’s election system.
Reactions from Colorado Democrats
Democratic U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, whose district includes NCAR, defended the institution’s work, saying it is "nonpartisan in nature" and "fundamentally about science, climate adaptation, weather forecasting, and other matters that are critical to our nation’s national security." Neguse also accused the Trump administration of taking "clearly retaliatory action" against Colorado, connected to the state’s refusal to honor the administration’s request for the release of Tina Peters.
Impact on the Government Funding Package
The hold put in place by Bennet and Hickenlooper has put a speed bump in plans for quick passage of the bipartisan spending package. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, acknowledged that the hold would require the Senate to use up valuable floor time and potentially delay the passage of the bill. Without an agreement to move the package quickly, Thune will have to navigate the complex process of getting the necessary 60 votes to advance the bill, which is not guaranteed. Funding for most of the government runs out on January 30, adding an extra layer of urgency to the situation.
Conclusion
The dispute over the National Center for Atmospheric Research has highlighted the deep divisions between the Trump administration and Colorado’s Democratic lawmakers. As the Senate navigates the complex process of passing a government funding package, it remains to be seen how the hold will be resolved and what impact it will have on the state of Colorado and the nation as a whole. One thing is certain, however: the fight over NCAR is far from over, and it will likely be a major point of contention in the days and weeks to come.
