I'm not sure how/why you are asserting this is a "free speech" or "free science" issue. The government isn't obligated to fund this (or any) lab - private donors are free to step in and continue funding.
That is the government trying to perform censorship.
And that there's some disincentive for wealthy people to go against the current administration's policies?
Look at Bill Gate's philanthropy over the years. There's thousands of others, including all of the Hollywood Celebrities that like to crow about the climate so much.
The NCAR was spending less than $150MM per year - it's not some outrageous amount of money for donors to fund.