Lawmakers in the U.S. Congress are pushing the Trump administration to stop the National Science Foundation (NSF) from dismantling the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), a $386 million network that monitors the ocean. Multiple outlets report that the planned wind-down involves scientists preparing to remove instruments from parts of the Pacific this year.
House Democrats, according to reports, are calling the action illegal and are raising concerns about disrupting long-running ocean observations and research infrastructure. Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley is reported to be drafting legislation aimed at freezing the removal of instruments.
The issue is also occurring alongside expectations for an El Niño event, which some coverage links to the timing of instrument removals. Scientists and lawmakers are therefore arguing that pausing dismantlement would preserve data collection during a potentially significant ocean and climate period.
The outlets describe the dispute as part of broader policy changes under the current administration, with lawmakers seeking to intervene through legislative and oversight efforts to prevent the observatory network from being taken apart.
