The Trump administration reversed its decision to dismantle a $368m deep-sea observation system following an outcry from lawmakers and ocean experts.

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United States

Who

Trump administration, National Science Foundation, lawmakers Jeff Merkley and Lisa Murkowski, ocean experts, scientists, stakeholders

What

The Trump administration reversed its decision to dismantle a $368m deep-sea observation system following an outcry from lawmakers and ocean experts.

When

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 19:49:20 GMT · 15h 25m ago

Where

United States ·

Why

The reversal followed widespread backlash from scientists and ocean experts who depend on the OOI’s data for research, and a bipartisan bill passed by the Senate.

The Frontline Impact

How this affects you

The decision halts the dismantling of the Ocean Observatories Initiative, preserving a vital source of data on ocean health, climate variability, and marine biodiversity, which informs forecasts and early-warning systems for storms and other severe weather events.

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