• Trump's administration has dismissed scientists responsible for the Sixth National Climate Assessment.
• The dismissal threatens the crucial report that informs communities about climate impacts.
• Concerns arise over the lack of preparation for the climate crisis in the U.S.
• The report is mandated by Congress to guide local and regional climate resilience efforts.
• Experts criticize the move as politically motivated and potentially harmful to public safety.

The Trump administration has disbanded the authors of the Sixth National Climate Assessment (NCA6), a key report mandated by Congress designed to guide the U.S. in facing climate challenges. In an email sent to contributors on Monday, the administration stated that the report's "scope" is being "reevaluated" and informed participants they were being "released from their roles." This decision follows a broader trend of personnel changes within the US Global Change Research Program, which oversees the assessment and has seen mass firings recently, according to Channel News Asia, TRT Global, and The Hill.

Experts have voiced serious concerns regarding this disruption, claiming it jeopardizes the nation's ability to prepare for the increasing climate crisis. Rachel Cleetus, a senior policy director at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and a former author for NCA6, expressed alarm, stating, "Today, the Trump administration senselessly took a hatchet to a crucial and comprehensive US climate science report." Other contributors, such as Abby Frazier, emphasized the importance of the report in helping communities understand how climate change impacts them locally, with one saying, "I am devastated by this news," highlighting the emotional toll of the dismissal according to Channel News Asia, TRT Global, and The Hill.

This disruption happens at a critical juncture as global temperatures have begun breaching the 1.5 degrees Celsius mark above preindustrial levels, exacerbating natural disasters across the United States. Previous editions of the National Climate Assessment have warned of significant risks to the economy, infrastructure, and public health due to climate change. Furthermore, the legal obligation to deliver this assessment to Congress, under the Global Change Research Act of 1990, raises questions about the potential delay or cancellation of vital climate information, according to Channel News Asia, TRT Global, and The Hill.

The implications of these staffing changes extend beyond academic circles, as the assessment plays a crucial role in providing actionable data for local decision-makers navigating the impacts of climate change. Cleetus also pointed out that "Lives will be lost. There will be harm caused by removing access to this federally funded, comprehensive scientific report," underlining the severe consequences of this disruptive action, according to Channel News Asia, TRT Global, and The Hill.