Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerSenate Democrats introduce legislation to probe politicization of pandemic response Schumer interrupted during live briefing by heckler: 'Stop lying to the people' Jacobin editor: Primarying Schumer would force him to fight Trump's SCOTUS nominee MORE (D-N.Y.) said on Tuesday that if the Trump administration moves forward with a panel reportedly intended to counter scientific consensus on climate change, Democrats will try to defund the group.

"I'm announcing that if the Trump administration moves forward with this fake climate panel, we'll be introducing legislation to defund it. … It is long past time for President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE and Republican leaders to admit that climate change is real, that human activity contributes to it and Congress must take action," Schumer said from the Senate floor.

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The Washington Post reported over the weekend that the Trump administration is planning to create an ad hoc group of federal scientists to reassess and counter the government's conclusions on climate change.

The initiative, which would be lead by the National Security Council, would feature scientists who challenge the seriousness of climate change and the degree to which humans are the cause, three administration officials told the Post.

Democrats have blistered GOP senators and the Trump administration over climate change in recent weeks, and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellPelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Senate GOP aims to confirm Trump court pick by Oct. 29: report Trump argues full Supreme Court needed to settle potential election disputes MORE (R-Ky.) is pledging to give the progressive "Green New Deal" a vote in the Senate as Republicans hunt for 2020 election fodder.

Schumer on Tuesday said that climate change is an "existential threat" and accused Republicans and the president of "ostrich-like" behavior.

"This may be the most conspicuous symptom of the disease of climate denialism that has infected the Republican Party and the hard right. This is beyond willful ignorance. This is intentional deliberate sowing of disinformation about climate change policy by our own government," Schumer said.