In the wake of President Trump’s executive orders targeting DEI efforts and a now-rescinded memo ordering a federal funding freeze, CU has told researchers to continue their work as usual. Meanwhile, atmospheric research centers that call Boulder home have shuttered DEI offices.
NCAR and UCAR closed all offices “engaged in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work” and “all of the organization’s DEI-related work has been ended,” as of Jan. 24, according to a release. All staff associated with those offices have been placed on paid administrative leave.
A spokesperson for the organization would not say which offices specifically had closed and how many staff members had been placed on administrative leave. The primary goal of the organization’s DEI work was to “work toward broader participation in the geosciences,” said David Hosansky, the UCAR/NCAR spokesperson.
“This action ensures the organization, as a federal contractor and an NSF (National Science Foundation) federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), is in compliance with President Trump’s executive orders,” the release stated.
One of the orders calls for the termination of all “illegal DEI and ‘diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility’ (DEIA) mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities in the Federal Government, under whatever name they appear” as well as termination of “all DEI, DEIA, and ‘environmental justice’ offices and positions.”
It was not yet clear how a now-rescinded memo ordering a widespread freeze on federal grants and loans — which sparked confusion and concern last week and has since been temporarily blocked by a federal judge — would impact the organization.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Jan. 29 that rescinding the memo was “NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze” and that the “President’s EO’s on federal funding remain in full force and effect, and will be rigorously implemented,” creating further confusion.
On Jan. 31, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) directing federal agencies not to “pause, freeze, impede, block, cancel or terminate” funding.
“[W]e are monitoring the situation but can’t speculate on what may or may not happen,” Hosansky said.
The National Science Foundation, which funds UCAR/NCAR as well as other research centers in Boulder, paused payments Jan. 28 before unfreezing them Feb. 2.
The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at CU Boulder has not put a stop on any projects or made any staffing changes as a result of the orders, according to university spokesperson Nicole Mueksch.
Mark Serreze, director of the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) which is part of CIRES, said Jan. 28 ahead of the TRO that the center was “very concerned” about the potential federal funding freeze.
“All I’m prepared to say at this time is that we are very disappointed at this executive order that is targeting DEI, environmental justice programs, etc.,” he said. “However this does not change and will never change what we are at NSIDC, what our core values are.”
Serreze named collaboration, respect, leadership, curiosity, communication, excellence and service as the organization’s values.
CU Boulder “is evaluating relevant executive orders in coordination with CU system, other CU campuses and higher education groups such as the Association of American Universities (AAU), the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities (APLU) and the American Council on Education (ACE),” university spokesperson Nicole Mueksch said in an email.
The university issued guidance Feb. 3 regarding funding freezes and the temporary restraining order: “We ask that all researchers, faculty, and staff continue working on their grants as normal.”
“These issues are rapidly evolving, and we recognize the uncertainty and worry our campus communities are experiencing,” the guidance stated. “We are here for you, and we are actively working with the [university] President, Chancellors and our legal team.”
The U.S. Department of Commerce, which runs the Boulder labs of NOAA, NIST and NTIA, did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication.
In other news…
• Strap in — Boulder’s “seer of seers” is predicting for more weeks of winter. Flatiron Freddy, the city’s prognosticating stuffed marmot, saw his shadow on Groundhog’s Day.
• Community members can provide feedback on Folsom Street safety improvements at an upcoming open house. The street has a history of crashes and has been identified as an area where severe crashes are likely to occur in the future.
Join in person Wednesday, Feb. 12 from 4-6 p.m. at the Penfield Tate II Municipal Building (1777 Broadway, Boulder) or through a virtual open house Jan. 29 through Feb. 19. More details: bit.ly/FolsomOpenHouseBW.
• Longmont Public Library’s free seed library allowing community members to select six seed packets at no cost returns March 2. The annual gardening fair will be the week prior, 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23, in the Longmont Library Meeting Rooms (409 4th Ave.).