Trump budget would cut ocean data and leave boaters, anglers and forecasters scrambling for info
Share this @internewscast.com

Capt. Ed Enos makes his living as a harbor pilot in Hawaii, clambering aboard arriving ships in the predawn hours and guiding them into port.

His world centers around wind speeds, current strength, and wave swells. When Enos finds himself afloat in perilous waters during the night, his cellphone becomes his lifeline: with a few taps, he can access the Integrated Ocean Observing System to obtain the necessary data to steer what are essentially floating warehouses safely to shore.

However, this might not continue for much longer. President Donald Trump intends to eliminate all federal funding for the system’s regional operations. Scientists warn that these cuts could end efforts to collect real-time data essential for navigating dangerous harbors, designing tsunami evacuation routes, and predicting hurricane intensity.

“It’s the last thing you should be cutting,” Enos said. “There’s no money wasted. Just when we should be getting more funds to do additional work for the public’s benefit, they plan to shut things down. It’s the wrong strategy at the wrong time for the wrong reasons.”

Monitoring system tracks all things ocean

The IOOS system launched about 20 years ago. It’s made up of 11 regional associations in multiple states and territories, including the Virgin Islands, Alaska, Hawaii, Washington state, Michigan, South Carolina and Southern California.

The regional groups are networks of university researchers, conservation groups, businesses and anyone else gathering or using maritime data. The associations are the Swiss army knife of oceanography, using buoys, submersible drones and radar installations to track water temperature, wind speed, atmospheric pressure, wave speeds, swell heights and current strength.

The networks monitor the Great Lakes, U.S. coastlines, the Gulf of Mexico, which Trump renamed the Gulf of America, the Gulf of Alaska, the Caribbean and the South Pacific and upload member data to public websites in real time.

Maritime community and military rely on system data

Cruise ship, freighter and tanker pilots like Enos, as well as the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, use the information directly to navigate harbors safely, plot courses around storms and conduct search-and-rescue operations.

The associations’ observations feed into National Weather Service forecasts. The Pacific Northwest association uses tsunami data to post real-time coastal escape routes on a public-facing app. And the Hawaii association not only posts data that is helpful to harbor pilots but tracks hurricane intensity and tiger sharks that have been tagged for research.

The associations also track toxic algal blooms, which can force beach closures and kill fish. The maps help commercial anglers avoid those empty regions. Water temperature data can help identify heat layers within the ocean and, because it’s harder for fish to survive in those layers, knowing hot zones helps anglers target better fishing grounds.

The regional networks are not formal federal agencies but are almost entirely funded through federal grants through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The current federal budget allocates $43.5 million for the networks. A Republican bill in the House natural resources committee would actually send them more money, $56 million annually, from 2026 through 2030.

Cuts catch network administrators by surprise

A Trump administration memo leaked in April proposes a $2.5 billion cut to the Department of Commerce, which oversees NOAA, in the 2026 federal budget.

Part of the proposal calls for eliminating federal funding for the regional monitoring networks, even though the memo says one of the activities the administration wants the commerce department to focus on is collecting ocean and weather data.

The memo offered no other justifications for the cuts. The proposal stunned network users.

“We’ve worked so hard to build an incredible system and it’s running smoothly, providing data that’s important to the economy. Why would you break it?” said Jack Barth, an Oregon State oceanographer who shares data with the Pacific Northwest association.

“What we’re providing is a window into the ocean and without those measures we frankly won’t know what’s coming at us. It’s like turning off the headlights,” Barth said.

NOAA officials declined to comment on the cuts and potential impacts, saying in an email to The Associated Press that they do not do “speculative interviews.”

Network’s future remains unclear

Nothing is certain. The 2026 federal fiscal year starts Oct. 1. The budget must pass the House, the Senate and get the president’s signature before it can take effect. Lawmakers could decide to fund the regional networks after all.

Network directors are trying not to panic. If the cuts go through, some associations might survive by selling their data or soliciting grants from sources outside the federal government. But the funding hole would be so significant that just keeping the lights on would be an uphill battle, they said.

If the associations fold, other entities might be able to continue gathering data, but there will be gaps. Partnerships developed over years would evaporate and data won’t be available in a single place like now, they said.

“People have come to us because we’ve been steady,” Hawaii regional network director Melissa Iwamoto said. “We’re a known entity, a trusted entity. No one saw this coming, the potential for us not to be here.”

___

The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find the AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
President Trump speaking to the press.

Trump Imposes 30% Tariffs on EU and Mexico; Trade Deal Hopes Diminish

DONALD Trump has announced the EU and Mexico are set to face…
Child predator among more than 300 nabbed in cannabis farm ICE raid, largest of Trump's second term

Over 300 Arrested, Including Child Predator, in Major ICE Cannabis Farm Raid During Trump’s Second Term

Federal authorities have announced that over 300 undocumented individuals were detained on…
Plane crash-lands near St. Augustine airport

Aircraft Makes Emergency Landing Near St. Augustine Airport

St. Johns County Fire Rescue noted in a Facebook post that the…
Rotting toe found in box on Washington beach

Decaying Toe Discovered in Box on Washington Shoreline

A Tacoma, Washington, man found a gift-wrapped severed human toe while celebrating…
Claim $150 bonus or $1K first bet safety net for Wimbledon final between Swiatek and Anisimova

Grab a $150 Bonus or Secure a $1,000 First Bet Safety Net for the Wimbledon Final: Swiatek vs. Anisimova

Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission…
Jennifer Aniston gets back massage from Jim Curtis on yacht

Jennifer Aniston Enjoys a Relaxing Yacht Massage from Jim Curtis

That escalated quickly. Jennifer Aniston was recently seen receiving a massage and…
Chicago shootings this weekend: At least 6 shot, 1 fatally, in gun violence across city, police say

Weekend Shootings in Chicago: Gun Violence Leaves 6 Injured and 1 Dead, According to Police

CHICAGO (WLS) — Police have reported that at least six people have…
Trump’s visit brings hope and unity after deadly flood, Kerrville residents say

Kerrville Residents See Hope and Unity in Trump’s Visit Following Devastating Flood

KERR COUNTY, TEXAS – Residents of Kerrville who gathered along the roads…
30 years later: How deadly July, 1995 Chicago heat wave led to formation of Office of Emergency Management and Communications

Three Decades On: The Impact of Chicago’s July 1995 Heatwave on Creating the Office of Emergency Management and Communications

CHICAGO (WLS) — This time, 30 year ago, Chicago was grappling with…
‘Ruthless’ Actor Derek Dixon Speaks Out on Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Tyler Perry: “I Couldn’t Stay Silent Anymore”

Actor Derek Dixon Breaks Silence on Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Tyler Perry: “I Had to Speak Up”

Derek Dixon, most recognized for portraying Dale in Tyler Perry’s shows Ruthless…
Trump reveals NATO sale to boost arms to Ukraine as Putin launches overnight maternity hospital strike

Trump Announces NATO Agreement to Increase Arms Supply to Ukraine Amid Putin’s Overnight Attack on Maternity Hospital

President Donald Trump announced a fresh NATO agreement on Thursday night that…
Carabinieri at a car accident scene.

Heartbreaking Image Surfaces After Airline CEO’s Wife Allegedly Hits Babysitter, 24; Lawyer Denies Her Fleeing the Scene

Heartbreaking images have surfaced from the devastating crash involving a CEO’s wife,…