LETTER: Defend the National Climate Assessment

I was deeply alarmed to read the recent New York Times article reporting that the Trump administration has dismissed the entire team of scientists preparing the next National Climate Assessment — an essential, congressionally-mandated report on how climate change is affecting our country. This is not just bureaucratic reshuffling, it’s a reckless and dangerous move that puts our communities, our economy and our future at risk.

Here in Iowa, we are already seeing the effects of a changing climate — more frequent flooding, unpredictable growing seasons and extreme weather events that threaten our farmers and rural communities. We rely on solid, science-based information to plan for the future. Gutting the very process that gives us those insights is not just irresponsible — it’s an assault on the tools we need to protect ourselves.

President Trump’s decision to cancel this effort, guided by self-interest and a disdain for facts, endangers not just the present but the well-being of our children and grandchildren. This report is not political — it’s a vital resource for communities across Iowa and the nation to prepare for real challenges.

I urge my fellow Iowans to speak up. Call your senators and representatives. Demand that they defend the National Climate Assessment and ensure that science, not politics, guides our response to climate change. We owe it to future generations to act with courage and clarity — not to bury the truth for the sake of convenience.