Murray Responds to Trump Admin Walking Back Plans to Dismantle Key Ocean Monitoring System, Demands Full Preservation of System

ICYMI: Murray Joins Bipartisan Push to Protect U.S. Ocean Monitoring Systems

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement in response to the National Science Foundation (NSF) announcing it is pausing its plans to dismantle the vital Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), a complex system of 900 ocean monitoring instruments that provides crucial data for coastal communities, fishermen, and nationwide emergency preparedness. The system relies on instruments off the coast of Washington state and other parts of the country and delivers critical information about ocean patterns and weather that are essential for protecting communities and fisheries alike.

"Dismantling this system is truly the height of stupidity-and a huge waste of taxpayer dollars that would threaten communities and fisheries in Washington state and all across the country. Anything less than the full restoration and preservation of these systems is unacceptable, and I will keep fighting to ensure that happens and that this inane plan is dead for good."

Senator Murray aggressively pushed NSF to reverse its plans. She also joined Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Lisa Murkowksi (R-AK) in sending a letter demanding the reversal of these plans and cosponsored legislation that unanimously cleared the Senate on Wednesday night, which would block NSF from proceeding with its efforts to dismantle the system.

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