The Ocean Observatories Initiative, a vast network of real-time ocean sensors, will begin dismantling this year after NSF funding cuts, with the first removal planned off the Oregon coast in mid-June.

Reporter Alexa St. John contributed to the story from Detroit.

Researchers involved in the project warn the shutdown could hinder long-term ability to monitor basic science and climate signals.

A seafloor cable network run by the University of Washington will stay online, continuing data collection on volcanic and seismic activity in the region.

NSF frames the descope as a strategic shift toward evolving priorities and lifecycle management of research infrastructure, not a cancellation, referencing a 2025 National Academies report.

The broader backdrop includes prior federal moves to cut climate research funding and shutter atmospheric facilities, though some actions faced legal challenges or ongoing debate.

The decision aligns with policy blueprints from Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, which labeled OOI as climate alarmism and urged disbanding much climate research despite prior funding fights with Congress.

Experts view the cuts as part of a broader downsizing of basic scientific research, signaling potential losses in long-standing national scientific commitments.

The story is part of a broader news site with sections dedicated to weather, national news, and science.

The article is reported by Véronique LaCapra of WHOI, published June 2, 2026, with updates.

Scientists describe the move as a “crippling loss of information,” signaling a broader reduction in federal support for fundamental research.

An AP expert warns the move represents a crippling loss of climate-monitoring information.