Congress and Scientists Challenge NSF Plan to Dismantle Ocean Observatory

Overview

• The National Science Foundation has ordered a phased 'descoping' that will remove most of the Ocean Observatories Initiative’s more than 900 in‑water instruments with removals scheduled through 2027 while some cabled infrastructure and archives will be retained temporarily.
• Lawmakers pressed the agency on Monday with a bipartisan Senate letter led by Sen. Jeff Merkley and Sen. Lisa Murkowski urging a halt and a joint House letter from Democrats led by Reps. Zoe Lofgren and Jared Huffman accusing NSF of acting illegally and demanding it stop decommissioning.
• NSF says the decision draws on a 2025 National Academies review and a shift in agency priorities, but scientists say the agency gave little warning or scientific consultation before beginning phased recoveries of instruments this month and with the first buoy due off Oregon this week.
• Researchers warn losing the OOI’s continuous subsurface data would leave gaps in tracking El Niño, ocean circulation, marine heatwaves, low‑oxygen events and fisheries signals because satellites and occasional ship surveys cannot replace real‑time moored and profiling sensors.
• Congressional and legal stakes are rising: federal law requires 30‑day notice to appropriations committees before decommissioning major assets, House members say no such notice was given, and lawmakers are preparing legislation and investigations to block or review NSF spending on removals.