Kate Marvel, a prominent climate scientist, resigned from NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, citing the Trump administration’s attacks on climate science and funding cuts. She described the environment as “wearing you down,” noting her proposals were ignored and her team was forced to work remotely after the institute’s Manhattan office was shuttered in 2025. 95,000 federal science agency employees, including 10,000 PhD holders, have left since Trump’s return, destabilizing critical research.

The closure of the Goddard Institute disrupted decades of climate modeling, including tracking greenhouse gases and simulating Earth’s systems via GISS ModelE. NASA administrator Jared Isaacman prioritized space exploration over climate research, calling politically charged studies “not helpful” to the agency’s mission. This shift aligns with broader Trump policies, including dismantling the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, and slashing biomedical funding.

Congress restored NASA’s climate budget in 2025, but scientists argue funds are misallocated. Ted Nordhaus of the Breakthrough Institute criticized the politicization of science, warning cuts threaten understanding of climate tipping points and societal responses. Marvel’s resignation highlights the human cost of defunding agencies that track droughts, wildfires, and ocean changes.

Marvel, 44, now seeks alternative funding for her research. Her work at NASA, including studies on exoplanets and Mars, underscores the irreplaceable role of federal science agencies. The Trump administration’s actions risk eroding public trust in science as a neutral truth-seeking tool, she argued. Key entities: NASA, Goddard Institute, Breakthrough Institute, National Center for Atmospheric Research.