Washington, D.C. – The Trump administration’s FY 2026 budget proposal would deeply undercut NOAA’s National Ocean Service (NOS), eliminating or reducing funding for dozens of coastal protection and management programs. The plan calls for cutting over $440 million in NOS funding, including the termination of grants for coastal zone management, the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, and the Coral Reef Conservation Program.
According to NOAA’s budget documents, the agency argues these programs fall outside the scope of core federal responsibility. But for state and local governments, universities, and coastal communities, NOS programs are lifelines for flood protection, hurricane preparedness, wetland restoration, and sustainable development.
Without federal support, projects that track sea-level rise, map vulnerable ecosystems, and fortify communities against climate-driven storms may grind to a halt. The loss of NOS funding could impact more than 1,100 staff positions and stall research partnerships across the Gulf Coast, Great Lakes, and Pacific Islands.
To everyday Americans, the disappearance of NOS might not make headlines—until the next hurricane hits harder, or beach closures affect local economies. These programs help maintain clean water, protect biodiversity, and keep development in check near eroding coastlines.
Experts argue that as climate threats intensify, cutting NOS is not just shortsighted but dangerous. “This isn’t trimming fat,” said one coastal scientist. “This is pulling out the foundation beneath communities that are already on the front lines of climate change.”
With over 40 percent of the U.S. population living in coastal counties, the fate of NOAA’s coastal stewardship will be felt widely and deeply. The question now is whether Congress will see these cuts as savings or as risks.
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