Former NOAA staff launch private site with climate data after government moves content to NOAA.gov

us this week to restore public access to climate data and tools removed from government servers last year. gov. NPR reported that the original site drew nearly one million visitors a month in 2021 before the Trump administration closed it.

Rebecca Lindsey, who directed the NOAA program until her layoff, began rebuilding the resource in August 2025 with two colleagues. The team raised about $280,000 through crowdfunding and later received a one-time anonymous grant that covers operations through at least February 2027. They also assembled roughly 80 volunteer scientists to review content.

As of June 24, 2025, visitors to the former NOAA address were directed to a notice citing Executive Order 14303 and stating that future products would move to NOAA.gov/climate. NOAA Communications Director Kim Doster provided the same statement when contacted. Lindsey said the editorial approach remains unchanged.

gov was never about — and Climate. " Texas Tech climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe said the original site had been a primary reference for accurate, accessible information and that its removal complicated public use of NOAA data. us as an example of expertise retained outside government after staff reductions.

The project follows a White House reversal last week on a plan to remove Pacific data buoys that track sea-surface temperatures and ocean chemistry changes linked to carbon dioxide.