Washington, D.C. – The Trump administration’s proposal to eliminate the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) within NOAA as part of the FY 2026 budget has sent waves through the scientific community. For many, OAR is the backbone of the nation’s weather and climate research infrastructure.
According to NOAA’s own justification, the budget would terminate OAR entirely, cutting $738 million in discretionary funding and eliminating over 880 positions. Programs on the chopping block include regional climate data networks, climate laboratories, ocean exploration, and the National Sea Grant College Program.
While the administration frames the move as a return to “core operational needs,” experts warn that removing the very research underpinning NOAA’s forecasts and models could be disastrous. “You can’t have reliable forecasts without research,” said one former NOAA official. “You wouldn’t shut down your R&D department and expect your business to thrive.”
For the average American, this could mean slower warnings for severe weather, less reliable seasonal forecasts, and the loss of community partnerships that make coastal and climate resilience possible. Sea-level rise projections, heat wave prediction tools, and regional data used by farmers, city planners, and emergency responders all depend on OAR’s work.
Climate science, much of it pioneered by OAR, has also been central in shaping U.S. policy and global understanding of extreme weather and long-term changes. Critics of the cuts argue that by dismantling OAR, the U.S. risks surrendering its leadership role in climate science at a time when understanding these risks is more critical than ever.
More follow-ups will explore impacts to NOAA’s fisheries and coastal programs in the coming days.
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