Trump administration faces backlash over plan to dismantle ocean sensor network

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleThe OOI, a $386 million network of over 900 sensors, has tracked ocean circulation, climate change, and extreme weather for a decade (AFP/Getty)A bipartisan group of senators and two Democratic House committees are challenging the National Science Foundation's (NSF) plan to dismantle the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), a crucial ocean monitoring network. The OOI, a $386 million network of over 900 sensors, has tracked ocean circulation, climate change, and extreme weather for a decade, with data freely available and contributing to over 500 scientific publications. The NSF plans to remove most OOI instruments by 2027, citing 'evolving scientific priorities,' a decision that scientists say was made without warning or scientific review. Senators, led by Jeff Merkley and Lisa Murkowski, argue the dismantling threatens coastal community safety and undermines national monitoring capabilities, urging a halt and thorough review. House Democrats accuse the NSF of illegal action, stating that the agency failed to provide the required 30-day congressional notification before decommissioning assets valued at over $2.5 million, and criticize the financial waste of destroying scientific infrastructure. In fullScientists warn Trump cuts could leave America blind to the next extreme weather disasterThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

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