The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced on Tuesday that it would no longer facilitate coordination of the Arctic Report Card, a scientific publication that has documented environmental conditions across the Arctic for the past two decades. NOAA communications director Kim Doster stated that while the agency would continue collecting data historically contributed to the report, federal support for the publication itself would be discontinued. NOAA indicated that other programs would maintain focus on Arctic research related to national security, weather forecasting, navigation safety, and economic interests of coastal communities.
The Arctic Report Card has served as a peer-reviewed platform for tracking atmospheric, oceanic, and terrestrial changes across a region warming approximately four times faster than the global average. The most recent edition identified record-breaking surface temperatures from October 2024 through September 2025, the lowest annual maximum sea ice extent in 47 years of satellite records, and widespread ecosystem disruptions. The report also documented ongoing glacier loss contributing to sea level rise and the emergence of iron-rich “rusting rivers” in Alaskan watersheds due to permafrost thaw, which has degraded water quality and affected fishing and drinking water supplies.
Scientists involved with the report expressed concern about the decision’s implications. Rick Thoman, the lead editor, stated efforts were underway to continue the publication despite the funding withdrawal and late timing. Twila Moon, an editor and scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center, characterized the loss of federal support as a reduction in U.S. scientific leadership and environmental monitoring capacity, noting that Arctic changes have impacts extending into mid-latitude regions.
Former NOAA administrator Rick Spinrad called the decision “unconscionable,” emphasizing the report’s utility for infrastructure planning and disaster preparedness in Alaska. He suggested the action reflected an administration preference to limit climate change research and understanding. The funding cancellation represents the latest in a series of steps taken since last January to reduce or eliminate federal climate research initiatives, including the removal of climate-related content from government websites and the dismantling of research facilities.
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