On 10/7, according to The Guardian, President Donald Trump's administration appointed Matthew Wielicki to head the US Global Change Research Program. This scientist lacks formal training in the field and is known for his skepticism regarding climate change.

US President Donald Trump speaks with reporters on his plane on 8/7. *Photo: AP*

The US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) was established by an act of the same name in 1990, during former President George H.W. Bush's administration. Its purpose is to coordinate climate research across 15 federal departments, agencies, and ministries.

The program's coordinating office is responsible for publishing the National Climate Assessment (NCA) report every four years. This report focuses on the impacts of climate change on infrastructure, the economy, and daily life, serving as a scientific basis for related policies. However, Trump significantly cut the program after taking office, dismissing the team of scientists working on the next report for 2027.

With this appointment, Wielicki will guide the next National Climate Assessment report. A geochemist without formal training in climate science, he previously worked at the University of Alabama. He is a climate change skeptic, asserting that those who believe in global warming are "being deceived".

Matthew Wielicki, former lecturer in geological sciences at the University of Alabama, US. *Screenshot from a PragerU media organization video*

On social media two days prior, Wielicki questioned whether attributing all extreme weather events to climate change in some way is truly scientific, or merely bias disguised as science. This query was in response to a research report suggesting that the climate crisis caused recent extreme heatwaves in Europe.

Since 2023, Wielicki has voiced doubts about the conclusions of previous National Climate Assessment reports. He argues that increased solar radiation, not carbon dioxide (CO2), is responsible for global warming.

Commenting on the appointment, a White House spokesperson stated that the administration "is committed to using the most accurate scientific information to guide public policy".

"For a long time, the US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) has been exploited as a tool for political agendas rather than accurate science," the spokesperson said. He emphasized that the administration aims to restore the USGCRP and ensure it fulfills its statutory role.

After taking office as president in early 2025, Trump significantly scaled back the USGCRP. Last week, the portal archiving previous reports was also deactivated.

The USGCRP overhaul is part of the Trump administration's efforts targeting climate research. Since last year, the White House closed offices collecting data and research programs in this area. The administration also released a report compiled by five climate-skeptic scientists. Building on this, Trump rescinded the scientific conclusion that "greenhouse gases are harmful to humans" earlier this year.

According to Politico, scientists who participated in the report refuting the harm of greenhouse gases were also invited to contribute to the National Climate Assessment. They criticized previous report versions and proposed a new one, emphasizing the positive aspects of climate change. They also warned that the most recent reports "are highly influential", "frequently cited in climate lawsuits". In particular, they serve as a basis for many legal regulations and lawsuits against fossil fuel companies.

Judith Curry, a member of the aforementioned group of scientists, believes previous national climate reports are "nearly useless" because they rely too heavily on extreme emissions scenarios.

Meanwhile, Michael Kuperberg, who served as USGCRP Executive Director before Trump took office as president, suggested it is not difficult to find a small group that inaccurately assesses their research. He asserted that the report version being compiled by the Trump administration will not represent the entire scientific field.

"The real danger is the loss of federal government integrity. When the government deliberately chooses a group of people to say 'the sun will not rise tomorrow', they will no longer have faith in subsequent scientists," he said.

Bao Bao (according to The Guardian, Politico)