Judge Blocks Federal Effort to Transfer NCAR Supercomputing Facility
5 verified2 unconfirmed
A federal judge in Colorado has granted a preliminary injunction blocking the U.S. government from transferring stewardship of a key supercomputing facility operated by the National Center for Atmospheric Research. The order halts an effort by the National Science Foundation to move management of the NCAR-Wyoming Supercomputing Center in Cheyenne to a third-party operator. The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, which runs NCAR under contract with NSF, sued the agency in response to the proposed transfer. Judge Richard Brooke Jackson ruled that the government’s action was arbitrary and capricious, citing a lack of explanation and failure to properly consider public input. The court also found that the transfer could cause irreparable harm to UCAR, including loss of specialized staff and damage to its scientific mission. The ruling ensures UCAR will temporarily retain its stewardship of the facility.
What’s verified
A Colorado judge granted a preliminary injunction blocking the NSF from transferring the NCAR-Wyoming Supercomputing Center to a different operator.
The ruling was issued by Judge Richard Brooke Jackson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado on June 1, 2026.
The judge found the NSF’s action was arbitrary and capricious because the agency offered no explanation for its decision and did not follow a process for public feedback.
The court determined that UCAR would suffer irreparable harm, including brain drain and financial injury, if the transfer proceeded.
The public interest favors maintaining the status quo, according to the judge, because any degradation in forecasting or modeling could harm property and human life.
Not yet confirmed
One source reports that the Trump administration announced the shutdown of NCAR in December 2025, a detail not mentioned by the other source.
One source notes that the government had solicited public feedback on the decision, while the other states that the agency did not follow an outlined process to consider public feedback.
Key figures
Judge Richard Brooke Jackson – U.S. District Judge for the District of Colorado
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) – plaintiff and manager of NCAR
National Science Foundation (NSF) – federal agency seeking to transfer the facility
Eric Barron – interim president of UCAR
Sources: eos.org, Ars Technica
