Court Finalizes Settlement Requiring USDA to Release Critical Climate and Forest Data
Year-long legal fight over Trump administration’s purge of climate webpages ends with binding agreement to turn over climate datasets to farmers, scientists, and advocates
WASHINGTON, DC – A federal court has approved a binding settlement requiring the U.S. Department of Agriculture to turn over key climate risk datasets and records on mature and old-growth (MOG) forests—concluding a lawsuit brought after the agency purged thousands of pages of climate information from its websites.
Under the terms of this settlement, USDA must deliver all data behind the Forest Service’s Climate Risk Viewer within seven days and release key records related to its mature and old-growth forest inventory by June 9, 2026.
Following is a statement from Rebecca Riley, managing director, food & agriculture at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):
“The administration tried to erase the science farmers and land managers depend on to survive an era of worsening droughts, floods, and wildfire. We went to court and won it back. Now USDA is legally required to hand over the climate risk data powering one of the Forest Service’s most critical planning tools—and to release the records that will shape how we identify and protect mature and old-growth forests across millions of acres of public land.
“This case is part of a troubling pattern. Whether it's climate science, corporate pollution data, or public health records, this administration has shown a consistent willingness to hide information the American people have every right to see. Transparency isn't a partisan issue—it's the foundation of accountable government. This settlement proves that when agencies try to bury inconvenient data, the courts will hold them to the law.”
Background
In early 2025, the Trump administration purged climate-related content from USDA websites—part of a broader removal of more than 8,000 pages across federal agencies—erasing resources farmers relied on to access conservation funding, adapt to extreme weather, and use tools like the Forest Service's Climate Risk Viewer. In February 2025, Earthjustice and the Knight First Amendment Institute filed suit on behalf of Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York, NRDC, and the Environmental Working Group, arguing the purge violated the Freedom of Information Act, the Paperwork Reduction Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act. USDA committed to restoring content in May 2025; this week’s settlement finalizes the case with binding data-release requirements.
NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).