National Science Foundation reverses decision to dismantle oceans-monitoring network after outcry
NSF halts dismantling of ocean monitoring network after bipartisan backlash from lawmakers and scientists concerned about climate data and public safety.
- On Thursday, the National Science Foundation announced it will halt plans to dismantle the $368 million Ocean Observatories Initiative, reversing course after intense bipartisan backlash from Congress.
- In late May, the agency initiated a 'descoping' strategy to remove hundreds of sensors from the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, sparking widespread criticism from lawmakers who warned it threatened critical climate data.
- On Wednesday, the Senate unanimously passed legislation to block federal funds for decommissioning the system, with Senators Lisa Murkowski and Jeff Merkley calling the earlier plan 'supreme stupidity.'
- The NSF confirmed it will redeploy equipment already removed from waters off Oregon and Washington state, though House Science Committee Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren cautioned the agency must address damage caused by its initial actions.
- Moving forward, the agency will convene an expert panel to ensure a sustainable path for the initiative, which has informed over 500 scientific publications and remains essential for tracking global climate patterns.
43 Articles
43 Articles
Criticized by the Democrats and Republicans, the Trump administration is retreating and abandoning its plan to dismantle an ocean surveillance system essential to understanding climate change and marine ecosystems.
The Trump administration reversed its controversial decision to dismantle a crucial ocean monitoring system that provides vital information on the health of the world's oceans, following a strong bipartisan reaction in Congress.
Trump administration abandons plans to remove ocean monitoring system • Washington State Standard
Oregon State University researchers maintain some of the Ocean Observatories Initiatives sensors along the Pacific Coast. In this photo, OSU researchers recover a buoy that measures ocean health. (Photo by Ocean Observatories Initiative) The Trump administration is backing off from its plans to remove a decade-old ocean monitoring system Oregonians rely on for fishing, recreation, science and emergency services. The National Science Foundation t…
"We simply couldn't afford to get rid of this infrastructure," responded the NGO Ocean Conservancy, calling it a "common sense" decision to keep the facility in operation.
Columbia Gorge News
NCWLIFETrump admin abandons plans to remove ocean monitoring system after intense Oregon pushback
The Trump administration is backing off from its plans to remove a decade-old ocean monitoring system Oregonians rely on for fishing, recreation, science and emergency services. The National Science Foundation this month began dismantling the Ocean Observatories Initiative system, a…
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