Arctic research center closes due to NSF budget cuts
A long-standing Arctic research facility in Alaska is shutting down after severe budget reductions to the National Science Foundation under the Trump administration. The 56 percent cut has forced the closure of the Barrow Arctic Science Consortium, impacting decades of climate and environmental studies. Scientists warn this could hinder critical research on a warming planet.
The Barrow Arctic Science Consortium (BASC), a key hub for Arctic research since 2012, announced its closure effective December 2024. This decision stems directly from the Trump administration's 2017 proposal to slash the National Science Foundation's (NSF) budget by 56 percent, reducing funding from $7.5 billion to about $3.3 billion. Although Congress mitigated some cuts, the overall impact on NSF's environmental and geosciences programs persisted, leading to reduced grants for Arctic initiatives.
BASC, located in Utqiaġvik, Alaska—the northernmost community in the United States—supported collaborative research on topics like permafrost thaw, sea ice dynamics, and Indigenous knowledge integration. Over its 12 years, it hosted hundreds of scientists from institutions worldwide, facilitating projects funded by NSF and other agencies. 'This closure is a devastating blow to Arctic science at a time when we need it most,' said BASC Executive Director Kerianne Murray in a statement. The center's operations included logistics support, data sharing, and community engagement, all now at risk.
The budget cuts, part of broader Trump-era proposals to redirect funds away from climate research, affected multiple NSF directorates. Geoscience funding dropped by 13 percent in fiscal year 2018, with ripple effects lasting years. Despite some recovery under subsequent administrations, Arctic programs like BASC struggled with inconsistent support. 'We've been limping along with patchwork funding,' Murray added, noting that the consortium's annual budget had dwindled to unsustainable levels.
The closure raises concerns about lost institutional knowledge and reduced access for researchers to the remote Arctic. Utqiaġvik's location, just 500 miles from the North Pole, made BASC invaluable for on-the-ground studies amid accelerating climate change. Local Iñupiat leaders expressed disappointment, highlighting the center's role in blending Western science with traditional ecological knowledge. As global temperatures rise, experts fear this gap could slow progress on understanding Arctic amplification, where the region warms at twice the global rate.
While BASC seeks ways to preserve its archives and partnerships, the shutdown underscores ongoing tensions between federal priorities and scientific needs. No immediate replacement has been announced, leaving a void in one of the world's most critical research frontiers.