A bipartisan coalition of US senators and House Democrats has formally opposed the National Science Foundation's (NSF) decision to dismantle a major ocean monitoring network, with some lawmakers accusing the agency of acting illegally. The Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), a $386 million network of over 900 sensors, has been tracking ocean circulation, marine ecosystems, climate change, and extreme weather for a decade, providing freely available data that has supported more than 500 scientific publications. The project was originally scheduled to continue for another 15 to 20 years.
NSF's Plan to Remove Instruments by 2027
The NSF directed the removal of most OOI instruments from waters off Oregon, Washington, Alaska, North Carolina, and Greenland by 2027. Scientists say this decision came without warning or scientific review. The agency described the move not as a cancellation but as a "descoping" aligned with a strategy to prioritize "evolving scientific priorities and emerging technologies." The Trump administration's proposed 2026 budget included a 55% cut to the NSF.
Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) called the plan "supreme stupidity and a violation of the fundamental distribution of powers in our Constitution." He noted that the program is authorized and funded by Congress, and the administration's unilateral shutdown undermines the legislative branch's authority.
Bipartisan Senate Letter
Merkley and Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) co-led a letter signed by nine other Democratic senators, urging the NSF to halt the dismantling and conduct a thorough review with input from the marine science community. The letter warns that eliminating the system threatens coastal safety and undermines the nation's ability to monitor coastal environments, marine currents, and extreme weather events.
House Democrats Demand Immediate Halt
In a sharper rebuke, Democrats from the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee sent a joint letter demanding the agency "cease this expensive, destructive, and – crucially – illegal action at once." The letter, led by Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Jared Huffman (D-CA), was signed by 23 Democratic members from each committee.
The House letter cites federal appropriations law requiring the NSF to notify congressional appropriations committees at least 30 days before decommissioning any facility or asset valued over $2.5 million. No such notification was given, according to the lawmakers.
Broader Context of Environmental Cuts
The ocean observatory cuts are part of a broader retreat from environmental and climate science under the Trump administration, which has scaled back research programs, reduced staffing at agencies like NOAA and the EPA, and eased emissions regulations.
Scientists Begin Removal on Tuesday
Scientists are scheduled to begin pulling the first buoy off the Oregon coast on Tuesday. Senator Merkley said he learned of the dismantling through news reports, describing it as "alarm bells." He and Murkowski planned to file legislation prohibiting the NSF from spending funds to decommission instruments until a thorough review is completed.
The senators cited the approaching El Niño as evidence of poor timing, warning that losing the observation system would threaten the ability to prepare for and monitor future El Niño events, leaving coastal communities, fishermen, and emergency responders without crucial information.
