The College Fix

Federal government axes subsidies to program that spooks kids about climate change

Taxpayers will no longer subsidize a Princeton University program that induces “climate anxiety” among K-12 students, according to the Trump administration.

The Department of Commerce “announced that nearly $4 million in funding is ending to Princeton University,” according to an April 8 news release. The decision followed “a detailed, careful, and thorough review of the Department’s financial assistance programs against National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s…current program objectives.”

“In addition, the ending of these award programs will streamline and reduce the cost and size of the Federal Government, consistent with President Trump’s promise for his Administration,” the Dept. of Commerce announced.

The department and Secretary Howard Lutnick specifically cited Princeton’s “Cooperative Institute for Modeling the Earth System I,” which “promotes exaggerated and implausible climate threats, contributing to a phenomenon known as ‘climate anxiety.’” This program is part of the $4 million cut.

“Climate anxiety” “has increased significantly among America’s youth,” according to the Commerce Department.

The department stated further:

Its focus on alarming climate scenarios fosters fear rather than rational, balanced discussion. Additionally, the use of federal funds to support these narratives, including educational initiatives aimed at K-12 students, is misaligned with the administration’s priorities. NOAA will no longer fund these initiatives.

The decision drew praise from Leslie Eastman at Legal Insurrection, who called the concept “nothing more than the ginned-up fantasy fear of the life essential known as carbon dioxide.”

“This added stress is needless and distracts our young people from achieving healthy goals and learning to do personal risk assessment properly,” Eastman wrote.

President Trump kills $4 million worth of climate grants to Princeton to stop climate hoaxers from terrorizing children:

“This cooperative agreement promotes exaggerated and implausible climate threats, contributing to a phenomenon known as “climate anxiety,” which has… pic.twitter.com/KYqTGlEnv4

— Steve Milloy (@JunkScience) April 10, 2025

There are other indicators that many Gen Z’ers are overly concerned about climate change.

A Lancet Planetary Health study in 2024 found 57.9 percent of Americans aged 16-25 years-old are “very or extremely worried, about climate change.”

About half of Gen Z struggles with “eco-anxiety,” The College Fix reported in Nov. 2024.

The University of California system also offers a group-therapy climate anxiety course, as The Fix has previously reported.

“The class aims to fill a critical gap in climate education and well-being, building on the science of personal and social resilience and climate change action, building a sense of belonging, and motivating empowerment and self-efficacy via actionable projects,” the course website states.

However, scientists and scholars have questioned the need to be overly concerned with climate change, as The Fix previously reported.

A total of 1,609 scientists, professors and other scholars signed on to a declaration in 2023 that argues there is no climate change crisis. It includes 53 pages’ worth of signatories from across the globe, including some Nobel Laureates and other researchers from prestigious universities, as reported by The Fix.

MORE: ‘Colonial dysphoria’ causes ‘distress’ for minority students, professor says

IMAGE CAPTION AND CREDIT: Donald Trump signs an executive order; White House/X

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