We’re joining together with thousands of activists and organizations to tell Congress: Save NOAA and our nation’s ocean research and monitoring programs.
Approximately 70% of Earth’s surface is covered by the ocean, which holds 97% of the world’s water, and 94% of all species are ocean residents. We turn a blind eye and underestimate the ocean at our peril.
For fiscal year 2026, the White House Office of Management and Budget is expected to release a budget proposal that includes a 28% reduction in NOAA’s funding. An approximately $1.7 billion decrease, from $6.1 billion to $4.5 billion.
With greenhouse gas emissions reducing the amount of heat escaping Earth and exacerbating global warming by contributing more energy to rising oceans, now is not the time to cut back or cease collaborative research, monitoring, and modeling between private institutions and the government.
Savvy comments are coming in from across the nation:
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NOAA is one of the most vital and beneficial agencies in our nation. We depend on NOAA's research in various fields, including transportation, shipping, agriculture, fisheries, urban and rural planning, coastal resilience, and much more.
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We have a thriving surf and diving community in Laguna Beach because of our water monitoring systems and the preservation of our kelp forests. This, in turn, feeds the multitude of sea creatures living within the tidal zone and reverberates into the depths of the sea. Please do not defund the NOAA. The health of humans and sea life depends on them.
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NOAA Coastal Zone Management is a vital program for coastal states. Thirty-four states partner with the federal government to design innovative programs that effectively address coastal challenges and regulations, enhance their coastal management practices, and provide the necessary tools to prevent and control pollution runoff and dredging.
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Without the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), our planet will be in extreme danger. We’ll be flying blind. People will be imperiled by not knowing what is happening with our weather, especially how climate change threatens all of Earth's inhabitants, so PLEASE don't allow this to happen!
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I won't mince words. I'm a 78-year-old female. I live in SWFL on an island. This idea of CUTTING NOAA is completely STUPID!!!!! >:(
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Louisiana has one of the most active seafood industries in the nation, and it is an essential part of our economy. Good resource management is vital to maintaining this resource, and information is imperative to this. NOAA is an invaluable member of this initiative.
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With Global warming and rising ocean levels, cutting funding for NOAA would leave coastal communities defenseless against the advancement of the oceans, weather forecasting alerts, and monitoring endangered estuaries. These programs are too crucial to the survival of coastal communities to take funding away!
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NOAA maintains a significant presence in the Great Lakes, where we need them to continue their groundbreaking research and further collaboration among the region’s agencies and organizations, and play a leading role in Great Lakes restoration. NOAA provides critical tools and information needed to advance science and stewardship to protect this vital resource, the Great Lakes.
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Please support the National Estuarine Research Reserves, such as Great Bay in New Hampshire, managed with assistance from NOAA and New Hampshire Sea Grant. Their research benefits the Atlantic fishery.
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NOAA has been working to improve Salmon Habitat in my area, and I want this work to be continued and perhaps expanded. All of the waters of the earth, from lakes to rivers to streams to icebergs and oceans, impact us all in more ways than we “regular folk” know, which is why we need the professionals and technology from NOAA to keep us up to speed on it all, to save our lives And this final thought sums our feelings up nicely: “In a time of increasing weather disasters, it’s just common freaking sense!”
A whole host of critical programs and services from Sea Grant Programs, Integrated Ocean Observing System, National Estuarine Research Reserves, to the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) are on the chopping block if Congress goes through with these extreme budget cuts.
Steady on,
Rob
