Former NOAA Staff Launch Independent Climate Website After Federal Data Shift

Former employees of the federal climate information portal Climate.gov have launched a new nonprofit website aimed at preserving public access to climate research and data after the Trump administration redirected the original site and eliminated much of its staff.

The new platform, Climate.us, was created by former Climate.gov program manager Rebecca Lindsey and a network of volunteer scientists. Organizers say the site restores approximately 15 years of climate records, indicators, educational resources and the Fifth National Climate Assessment that were previously available through the federal website.

The effort comes about a year after the Climate.gov domain was redirected and staffing reductions affected the program. Organizers said more than 80 volunteer scientists reviewed the material before launch.

According to the nonprofit, more than 2,500 individual donors contributed roughly $250,000 to support the project and keep the data publicly accessible. The website operates independently of the federal government.

Supporters of the initiative say the project reflects growing concerns about long-term public access to scientific information as federal agencies undergo workforce reductions. Organizers argue that placing climate data on an independent platform helps protect research from potential political influence and ensures continuity regardless of changes in administration.

Federal workforce reductions since late 2024 have affected agencies including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency. The creators of Climate.us say their goal is to provide a stable, publicly available source of climate information that remains accessible even if government priorities shift.

Lindsey said trusted scientific information should remain available to the public regardless of political changes, describing the project as an effort to preserve research that many educators, researchers and policymakers rely upon. The launch of Climate.us may also serve as a model for future efforts to safeguard public-interest scientific data outside of government control.