Betsy Weatherhead

{{Short description|American climatologist}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}}

Elizabeth C. Weatherhead, more commonly known as Betsy Weatherhead, is an American climatologist, atmospheric scientist, government official, and professor{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}. She was appointed in 2020 by United States president Donald Trump to head the National Climate Assessment (NCA).{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/11/04/national-climate-assessment-director/ |title=White House taps mainstream climate scientist Betsy Weatherhead to run key report |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2020-11-04 |accessdate=2021-11-02}}

Biography

Before working for the United States government, Weatherhead worked in the private sector for Jupiter Intelligence. At the University of Colorado and Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, she studied climate change in the Arctic and climate forecast modeling.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cpr.org/2020/11/06/trump-administration-picks-colorado-scientist-to-lead-its-next-climate-assessment/|title=Trump Administration Picks Colorado Scientist To Lead Its Next Climate Assessment|first=Sam|last=Brasch|website=Colorado Public Radio|date=November 6, 2020 }}

Trump's successor Joe Biden removed Weatherhead from the position in April 2021, replacing her with Allison Crimmins.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/04/18/betsy-weatherhead-removed-white-house/ |title=Betsy Weatherhead, director of National Climate Assessment, removed by White House |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2021-04-18 |accessdate=2021-11-02}}{{cite news |last1=Tollefson |first1=Jeff |title=Influential US climate report moves ahead — under new leadership |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01969-x |journal=Nature |date=July 16, 2021 |doi=10.1038/d41586-021-01969-x}} In the House of Representatives, two Republicans questioned why the Biden administration removed her from her role overseeing the NCA, alleging that her removal was politically motivated.{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/politics-science-climate-climate-change-environment-and-nature-27e8f788b654cfc4c4967add6d136748|title=Republicans ask why White House removed climate scientist|date=May 4, 2021|website=AP News}}{{cite news |last1=Choi |first1=Matthew |last2=Adragna |first2=Anthony |title=Biofuels want in on the action |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/morning-energy/2021/05/04/biofuels-want-in-on-the-action-795059 |work=Politico |date=2021-05-04}}{{cite news |last1=Lucas |first1=Fred |title=House GOP seeks answers on Biden White House's ouster of climate official |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-gop-answers-biden-white-house-climate-official-ouster |work=Fox News |date=May 14, 2021}}

See also

References

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