Lawmakers Challenge NSF's Plan to Dismantle Ocean Monitoring Network

A bipartisan group of senators and House committees is challenging the National Science Foundation's (NSF) decision to dismantle the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), a network of over 900 ocean sensors costing $386 million. The NSF plans to remove most instruments by 2027, describing the move as 'descoping' aligned with evolving scientific priorities.

The OOI has tracked ocean circulation, marine ecosystems, climate change, and extreme weather for a decade, informing over 500 scientific publications. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), along with other Democratic senators, sent a letter urging the NSF to halt dismantling and conduct a thorough review. They argue that eliminating the monitoring system threatens coastal communities' safety and undermines the nation's ability to monitor environmental changes.

In a sharper rebuke, Democrats from the House Science, Space and Technology Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee accused the NSF of acting illegally. They demanded the agency cease what they described as an 'expensive, destructive, and illegal action.' The lawmakers cited federal appropriations law, which requires the NSF to notify congressional committees at least 30 days in advance of any planned decommissioning of assets valued over $2.5 million.

The NSF's decision comes amid a broader retreat from environmental and climate-related science under the Trump administration. The cuts are part of a pattern that includes scaling back research programs, reducing staffing at agencies like NOAA and the EPA, and easing emissions regulations. Scientists are scheduled to begin removing the first buoy off the Oregon coast soon.

Senator Merkley expressed his concern over the lack of consultation or scientific review before the decision was made. He stated that he learned of the dismantling through news reports and emphasized the importance of congressional oversight in such matters. The senators also cited the approaching El Niño as evidence of the ill-timed nature of the cuts, warning that coastal communities would be left without crucial information.