As climate change intensifies, extreme heat is becoming a deadly reality for communities across the United States. Yet, critical research aimed at understanding and mitigating this threat is facing unprecedented cuts, leaving communities vulnerable and scientists scrambling to keep vital work alive. Missoula County, Montana, just hours from the Canadian border, is not known for scorching temperatures. But rising heat waves, driven by climate change, are now a serious concern, raising the specter of a catastrophic heat event for its 120,000 residents. The 2021 Pacific Northwest heatwave, which claimed over 1,400 lives, serves as a stark warning of the deadly consequences of unpreparedness.
The Cuts: A Systematic Undermining of Heat Research
The Trump administration’s systematic dismantling of climate science funding has crippled efforts to address extreme heat. The Center for Collaborative Heat Monitoring, a federally funded partnership tasked with mapping heat in communities nationwide, had its funding terminated in May. This decision eliminated $10,000 in support for Missoula County, which had already planned to identify the hottest areas in the region and focus mitigation efforts accordingly. “This is life-saving data,” says Alli Kane, Climate Action Program Coordinator for Missoula County. “We know heat is the number one weather-related killer across the United States.”
The cuts extend beyond the Center for Collaborative Heat Monitoring. The National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS), created during the Obama administration to generate science-based heat safety tools, has been decimated by funding cuts and personnel losses. Juli Trtanj, former executive director of NIHHIS, left her role in April, citing the departure of colleagues and the loss of long-term planning capacity. The Center for Heat Resilient Communities in Los Angeles, designed to tailor heat management blueprints for communities, also lost its funding.
The Impact on Scientists and Research
The cuts have forced researchers to abandon projects, shrink teams, and avoid keywords like “climate” and “environmental justice” in grant applications. Tarik Benmarhnia, an environmental epidemiologist at UC San Diego, was forced to scrap research on heat’s impact on unhoused populations and reduce his team from over 30 to fewer than 10. Layoffs at the CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) further crippled heat research, leaving the first federal standard protecting workers from heat vulnerable.
Mayra Cruz, a University of Miami heat researcher, anticipates a scarcity of heat-related job opportunities upon graduation. Scientists are considering leaving the country altogether, with 75% of respondents in a Nature poll indicating they were considering relocating due to disruptions in science funding.
Communities Scramble to Fill the Gap
Despite the federal setbacks, some communities are fighting to keep heat research alive. Missoula County managed to piece together alternative funding to support volunteer-driven heat mapping efforts, but gaps remain. Smaller entities, such as local governments and nonprofits, are stepping in, but many lack the resources and expertise to address extreme heat effectively.
Susan Teitelman, a climate resilience specialist at Climate Smart Missoula, warns that vulnerable communities will be harmed first and hardest by the funding cuts. Scientists are left scrambling to keep the work going, with Benmarhnia stating, “That’s really how I see my responsibility right now…To keep doing it.”
The Stakes Are Deadly
The cuts to heat research are not just an academic issue; they have real-world consequences for public health and safety. The United States had an opportunity to build equitable heat management programs, but that opportunity has been squashed. The loss of funding and expertise will lead to more preventable deaths and disproportionately harm vulnerable communities. The stakes are deadly, and the cuts represent a dangerous step backward in the fight against extreme heat
