Stop the Waste: Protect America’s Ocean Monitoring Investment

I am writing to urge you to oppose the dismantling of the Ocean Observatories Initiative, a $368 million deep-ocean monitoring system that directly benefits North Carolina and the broader East Coast. Ending this program prematurely is both a waste of taxpayer investment and a serious threat to coastal resilience, economic stability, and scientific progress. North Carolina is especially vulnerable to coastal flooding, hurricane impacts, and shifting marine ecosystems. The observatory network provides critical, real-time data on ocean temperature, currents, and chemical changes that help scientists and policymakers understand and predict these risks. This information supports fisheries, protects coastal infrastructure, and improves storm preparedness—issues that are vital to North Carolina’s economy and public safety. The decision to dismantle the system discards a long-term investment that was designed to operate for 25 years but is being cut short after only a decade. Taxpayers have already funded the infrastructure, deployment, and maintenance of more than 900 instruments. Removing them now not only wastes that investment but also disrupts long-term datasets that are essential for identifying trends in coastal flooding and climate change affecting North Carolina communities. This is not a meaningful cost-saving measure. At approximately $48 million annually, the program delivers high-value data that informs disaster planning, supports commercial fisheries, and reduces long-term recovery costs from extreme weather. Eliminating it increases uncertainty and risk—costs that will ultimately be borne by states like North Carolina. Additionally, dismantling this network weakens U.S. leadership in ocean science and undermines international research collaborations. At a time when coastal states face growing environmental and economic pressures, retreating from proven scientific infrastructure is both short-sighted and harmful. I urge you to take immediate action to stop the dismantling of this system, protect prior taxpayer investments, and ensure continued support for the data and research that North Carolina depends on.