Lawmakers Race to Save An Ocean Science Network From Being Dismantled By Trump
There are moments when a decision made behind closed doors threatens something far larger than any one agency or budget line — and the push to dismantle theOcean Observatories Initiativeis exactly that kind. . .
There are moments when a decision made behind closed doors threatens something far larger than any one agency or budget line — and the push to dismantle theOcean Observatories Initiativeis exactly that kind of moment. A network of more than 900 sensors built at a cost of $386 million is now facing removal, and scientists, lawmakers, and coastal communities across the country are sounding the alarm. According toThe Associated Press, the National Science Foundation recently directed the removal of most of the system’s instruments from waters off Oregon, Washington, Alaska, North Carolina, and Greenland by 2027 — with no prior warning and no scientific review. Over the past decade, this remarkable system has tracked ocean circulation, marineecosystems,climatechange, and extreme weather events, with its freely available data informing more than 500 scientific publications. The project had been expected to continue operating for another 15 to 20 years. Theenvironmental stakes could not be higher. Researchers warn that dismantling this infrastructure now, just as an approaching El Niño threatens to supercharge marine heat waves and disrupt global weather patterns, leaves coastal communities, fishermen, and emergency responders without the tools they need to prepare. The data this network produces does not just serve scientists — it protects lives and livelihoods up and down America’s coastlines. A bipartisan group of senators, led by Democrat Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Republican Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, sent an urgent letter to the NSF demanding an immediate halt and a full review before any further action is taken. Democrats on two House committees went further, calling the move not only wasteful but potentially illegal. Federal law requires agencies to notify Congress at least 30 days before decommissioning assets valued above $2. 5 million, and lawmakers say that notification never came. The dismantling of the Ocean Observatories Initiative reflects a disturbing broader pattern of pulling back fromclimateandnaturefocused science. Rather than building on a decade of extraordinaryoceanresearch, taxpayers are now funding ships to remove it. The good news is that people are fighting back — and every voice raised in defense of science and our sharedplanetmatters. Being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Click here to Support UsSign These Petitions!Please sign our latest and most urgent petitions to help the planet. Every signature counts!Petition: 99% of Food Additives in the US Were Never Safety Tested by GovernmentPetition: He Terrorized His Two Dogs for Months Then Went After His PartnerPetition: Coal Mining Explosion Kills 82 in China as Demand for Clean Energy Grows UrgentRelated Content:Scientists Just Retired the Worst-Case Climate Modelling ScenarioNew York Is Rolling Back Its Climate Law and Vulnerable Communities Are Paying the PriceWhy Eating Less Meat Could Be One of the Most Powerful Climate Moves of Our Time