US LAWMAKERS OPPOSE OCEAN MONITORING PROGRAMME DISMANTLING

Democratic senators and one Republican senator sent letters to the National Science Foundation on Monday requesting reversal of plans to dismantle the Ocean Observatories Initiative. Two Democratic House committees joined the effort, with House lawmakers alleging the agency acted illegally. The Ocean Observatories Initiative comprises more than 900 ocean sensors constructed at a cost of £386 million. The National Science Foundation had directed removal of most instruments from waters off Oregon, Washington, Alaska, North Carolina and Greenland by 2027.

Over the past decade, the network tracked ocean circulation, marine ecosystems, climate change and extreme weather, producing publicly available data that informed more than 500 scientific publications. The project was authorised to continue for a further 15 to 20 years. The National Science Foundation described the action as "descoping" aligned with prioritising "evolving scientific priorities and emerging technologies" rather than a cancellation. Scientists stated the decision came without warning or scientific review. The Trump administration's proposed 2026 budget included a 55 per cent cut to the agency.

Jeff Merkley, a Democratic senator from Oregon, characterised the decision as "supreme stupidity" and a violation of constitutional distribution of powers. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican senator from Alaska, co-led the letter alongside Democratic senators Edward Markey and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell of Washington, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Ron Wyden of Oregon. Merkley argued the programme was authorised and funded by Congress, and that termination without congressional direction violated the constitutional role of the legislative branch.