The Mesa Lab, headquarters of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), sits on the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Boulder, Colorado, on May 13, 2026. The Trump administration plans to dismantle this major research center on weather and climate funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and managed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), a coalition of 129 US universities. AFP spoke to a dozen scientists who recounted how facilities in Colorado -- one of the world's most important hubs for climate and meteorological science -- have been crippled since Trump returned to office last year. (Photo by Ulysse BELLIER / AFP via Getty Images)