The Drift Watch

White House plan guts NOAA climate research, redirects focus to industry support

An early warning signal — tracked and categorized.

Other Moderate April 11, 2025
A leaked White House OMB memo outlines plans to eliminate NOAA’s climate research division, reduce its budget by over $1.5B, and redirect resources to support fossil fuel interests. The memo describes the agency’s current focus as “mission creep.” While not yet an enacted executive order, this reveals intent to dismantle scientific oversight in favor of industry-aligned goals — a direct rollback of longstanding environmental policy norms. Note: The strategy aligns with Project 2025 proposals, though not explicitly referenced in the document.