Dismay as Trump officials to dismantle key ocean monitoring system The Trump administration plans to dismantle the $368 million Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), a system providing critical data on ocean health and climate change for over a decade. Despite NSF’s claim of a ‘descope’ to prioritize evolving science, scientists and lawmakers express dismay, fearing a significant rollback of climate science initiatives and a loss of crucial expertise. The dismantling involves removing all in-water infrastructure, ending continuous ocean monitoring and potentially creating a gap in future research capabilities.

• The Trump administration plans to dismantle the $368m Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), a deep-sea observation system.
• The OOI collects data on ocean health, climate variability, and marine biodiversity using over 900 instruments.
• The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced plans to ‘descope’ the OOI by removing all in-water infrastructure.
• Scientists have expressed dismay, calling the move shortsighted and a rollback of science initiatives.
• The dismantling is expected to take 15 months, ending over a decade of continuous ocean monitoring.
• OOI data has contributed to research on carbon sequestration, marine ecosystems, and the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC).
• The NSF stated the ‘descope’ aligns with a strategy for a nimbler approach to support evolving scientific priorities.