• NASA will not host key climate change reports as previously promised by the Trump administration.
• This decision follows the shutdown of official government sites that held national climate assessments.
• Critics argue this action aims to obscure critical data on climate change impacts.
• Former White House officials describe the reversal as "political misdirection."
• The latest national climate report highlights serious risks to minority communities disproportionately affected by climate change.

The Trump administration has taken significant steps to limit access to critical scientific assessments regarding climate change, as it has declared that NASA will no longer publish major climate reports on its website. Initially, NASA had agreed to house these reports to comply with legal requirements; however, this plan was abruptly canceled, leaving state and local governments, as well as the public, without access to vital information on climate change's impacts, according to Indiatimes and NPR.

The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) stated that it met its statutory requirements by presenting its reports to Congress, whereas NASA has "no legal obligations" to host the data, as explained by NASA Press Secretary Bethany Stevens. The cancellation follows a statement from NASA made on July 3, which assured that all previous climate reports would be accessible on their website, according to LA Times and NPR.

Katharine Hayhoe, a climate scientist and chief scientist at The Nature Conservancy, emphasized the importance of these reports, stating they are essential for public safety in a warming world. Hayhoe pointed out that while past reports are available through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the cancellation represents a setback for transparency and public awareness concerning climate impacts, according to Indiatimes and LA Times.

Former Obama administration scientist John Holdren accused the Trump administration of "misdirection" and asserted that their long-term intent has been to censor climate reports. He argued these assessments contain vital information about how climate change will affect agriculture, natural resources, and disasters, stressing the necessity for local and state entities to access this information for effective planning and response, as stated by NPR and LA Times.

In the most recent report released in 2023, it was highlighted that climate change poses risks to various aspects of security, health, and livelihoods across the nation, indicating that minority communities, especially Native Americans, are often at a heightened risk, according to LA Times, Indiatimes, and NPR.