A coalition of Democratic senators, joined by one Republican, along with two Democratic House committees, sent letters on Monday to the National Science Foundation (NSF) urging it to reverse its decision to dismantle a major ocean monitoring network. The House lawmakers went further, accusing the agency of acting illegally.
Background on the Ocean Observatories Initiative
The Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) consists of over 900 ocean sensors built at a cost of $386 million. Over the past decade, it has tracked ocean circulation, marine ecosystems, climate change, and extreme weather, providing freely available data that has informed more than 500 scientific publications. The project was expected to operate for another 15 to 20 years.
The NSF directed the removal of most instruments from waters off Oregon, Washington, Alaska, North Carolina, and Greenland by 2027. Scientists said this decision came without warning or scientific review. The agency described the move as a “descoping” to prioritize “evolving scientific priorities and emerging technologies.” The Trump administration’s proposed 2026 budget included a 55% cut to the NSF.
Senators React
Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) called the decision “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 lacks the authority to shut it down without legislative direction.
Merkley and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) co-led a letter also signed by Democratic Senators Edward Markey and Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts), Tammy Baldwin (Wisconsin), Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell (Washington), Sheldon Whitehouse (Rhode Island), Chris Van Hollen (Maryland), and Ron Wyden (Oregon). The letter urged the NSF to halt dismantling and conduct a thorough review with input from the marine science community.
“Eliminating most of this complex ocean monitoring system threatens the safety of our coastal communities while undermining our nation’s ability to monitor coastal environments, marine currents, and extreme weather events,” the senators wrote.
House Democrats Accuse NSF of Illegal Action
In a stronger 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 and Jared Huffman (both D-California), was signed by 23 Democratic members from each panel.
NSF Defends Decision
In a June 3 statement, the NSF said its decision was partly based on a 2025 National Academies report on the future of ocean science. “NSF remains committed to ocean science and will continue working with the scientific community on high-priority research objectives,” the agency stated.
Broader Context
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 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency, and eased emissions regulations.
Legal Questions
Federal appropriations law requires the NSF to notify the House and Senate appropriations committees at least 30 days before decommissioning any agency-owned facilities or assets valued over $2.5 million. The House letter stated no such notification was given. Merkley said he learned of the dismantling through news reports, adding that his office is confirming whether formal notification occurred. “If there was no notification, this would appear to be illegal,” he said.
Merkley and Murkowski planned to file legislation on Monday to prohibit the NSF from spending federal funds to decommission instruments until a thorough review is completed. Scientists are scheduled to begin removing the first buoy off the Oregon coast on Tuesday.
Timing Concerns
The senators cited the approaching El Niño – a periodic Pacific warming that disrupts weather patterns and intensifies marine heat waves – as evidence the cuts are poorly timed. “The loss of this deep-water observation system would threaten our ability to prepare for and monitor future El Niño events,” they wrote, warning that coastal communities, fishermen, and emergency responders would lose crucial information.
The House letter stated: “Instead of paying for the valuable insights that can be gleaned from the 10-years-and-counting continuous monitoring, taxpayers are now paying for research vessels to span the ocean dredging up hundreds of pieces of instrumentation. This is pathetic. In a time of strained resources, the NSF is wasting time and money to destroy its own scientific infrastructure.”
