Boulder community members shared their thoughts on why the continued government funding of federal research labs is critically important.
U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse hosted a press conference at the Boulder Public Library to address the proposed budget cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Scientists, politicians and Boulder community members came together this weekend to share their thoughts on why the continued funding of federal research labs is important.
Six panelists, including U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, met Saturday to decry the lack of research funding the national government is proposing for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.“Over the course of the last seven months, science and our federal laboratories across the country have been under attack by this administration,” said Neguse, a Democrat who represents Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District. “The budget request is just the latest volley in that battle.” Panelists discussed a recent proposal by the Trump administration to give NOAA zero dollars in federal funding for the 2026 fiscal year. In contrast, NOAA received roughly $220 million for climate research alone in the 2024 fiscal year. “The scientific superpower that the United States has become over decades is under threat with this budget proposal,” said Dan Powers, executive director of CO-LABS. “It is astounding, it is dangerous, and it is surreal that we would willingly decide to defund fundamental research.” U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse raises concerns to the panel and the audience on July 12, 2025. U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse hosted a press conference at the Boulder Public Library to address the proposed budget cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The panel conversation drew a crowd of over 100 to the Boulder Public Library’s Canyon Theater. One audience member brought a sign that proclaimed, “We love NOAA.” John Tayer, president and CEO of the Boulder Chamber, called NOAA a cornerstone in the local and national economies. Tayer estimated that NOAA has a $114 million impact on the Boulder region. “These are dollars that circulate in our local economy representing spending on restaurants, retail shopping, services and housing,” Tayer said. “NOAA employment represents jobs we cannot afford to lose.” The panel was moderated by former U.S. Rep. David Skaggs, who also represented Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District from 1987 through 1999. Former NOAA employees on the panel told the audience how the research conducted at the Boulder labs bolsters public safety. “We know that the weather’s going to get more violent,” said Sandy MacDonald, who worked for NOAA for over 40 years. “NOAA’s job is to protect the public.” From left: Sandy MacDonald, Director of NOAAs Forecast Systems; Robin Webb, retired from NOAA; Laura Riihimaki, former staff of NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory; John Tayer, President and CEO of the Boulder Chamber; and Dan Powers, Executive Director for CO-LABS, formed an expert panel on why NOAA is so important. U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse hosted a press conference at the Boulder Public Library to address the proposed budget cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Robin Webb spent 10 years as the director of NOAA’s Physical Sciences Laboratory. Under Webb’s leadership, the lab focused on research that advanced the prediction of floods, droughts and wildfires. “This is just a brief snapshot of the depth of the research that is going on in this lab,” Webb said. Another panelist, Laura Riihimaki, was fired from her job in NOAA’s Global Monitoring Laboratory in February. She said she is worried about the loss of expertise at NOAA. “I think these cuts are going to not save Americans money, they are going to cost Americans money in the long term,” Riihimaki said. “I think that they are going to impact NOAA’s ability to actually save lives.”South Rim fire forces evacuations near Black Canyon of the Gunnison National ParkColorado weather: Strong thunderstorms, hail forecast in south metro, I-25 corridor "Rapidly moving" South Rim fire in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park forces more evacuationsNuggets Journal: With Jonas Valanciunas likely destined for Denver, David Adelman envisions another point centerJohn Elway cleared in death investigation of sports agent and friend Jeff Sperbeck, report says
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