Lawmakers push to stop Trump dismantling of ocean observatory project

Key Points:

• A bipartisan group of senators and Democratic House committees have urged the National Science Foundation (NSF) to halt plans to dismantle the Ocean Observatories Initiative, a $386 million network of over 900 ocean sensors critical for monitoring marine ecosystems and climate change.
• The NSF plans to remove most instruments by 2027 from locations including Oregon, Washington, Alaska, North Carolina, and Greenland, citing a shift in scientific priorities, but lawmakers argue this move lacks proper scientific review and legal notification.
• Senators Jeff Merkley and Lisa Murkowski, among others, criticized the decision as a violation of congressional authority and warned it jeopardizes coastal safety and the ability to monitor extreme weather events like El Niño.
• House Democrats accused the NSF of illegal action and called for an immediate stop to the dismantling, highlighting concerns about wasted resources and the loss of valuable long-term ocean data.
• The controversy reflects broader cuts to environmental and climate science under the Trump administration, with lawmakers proposing legislation to prevent further decommissioning until thorough reviews are conducted.