Washington, D.C. – The Trump administration’s fiscal year 2026 budget request for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) proposes eliminating over $1.8 billion in discretionary funding, marking one of the most significant reorganizations of the agency in recent history.
The budget blueprint outlines sweeping cuts across NOAA’s operations, most notably targeting the elimination of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) and major reductions in the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the National Ocean Service (NOS). These changes are being justified by a desire to streamline core missions like weather forecasting and satellite operations.
According to NOAA’s budget documents, the agency aims to focus on “core operational needs” by transferring select programs to the National Weather Service and terminating functions deemed outside the scope of federal responsibility. This includes dismantling OAR’s climate and ocean research divisions, slashing fisheries science and species recovery grants under NMFS, and halting coastal zone management and estuarine reserve programs in NOS.
If enacted, the cuts could result in the loss of more than 2,300 positions across NOAA, with severe implications for climate modeling, marine conservation, and community-level weather readiness. Scientists and environmental advocates warn that eliminating foundational science programs undermines the agency’s capacity to respond to worsening climate threats and marine ecosystem disruptions.
The proposal arrives amid intensifying political scrutiny from House Republicans over climate-related spending and perceived mission creep within NOAA. While supporters of the budget claim it brings fiscal discipline and focus, critics argue it strips away the very science needed to protect life and property from environmental hazards.
A series of follow-up stories will examine the real-world consequences of defunding NOAA’s science arms, starting with the disbandment of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research.
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