U.S. pulling ocean sensors a 'shock' for Canadian research as El Niño nears
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
US is dismantling a network of 900 ocean sensors, shocking Canadian researchers.
The National Science Foundation began dismantling the Ocean Observatories Initiative's 900 sensors off Oregon, Washington, Alaska, North Carolina, and Greenland. By 2027, most of the system will be removed, despite being slated for another 15-20 years. The shutdown follows a proposed 55% cut to the NSF in the 2026 Trump budget. Official word arrived in early May.
What commenters are saying
Commenters overwhelmingly see the dismantling as intentional destruction to hinder future climate monitoring, not cost-saving (spending money to remove sensors instead of abandoning them). Several note Congress authorized the project, making the action potentially illegal. Many argue the real goal is to make restoration prohibitively expensive, echoing Project 2025. Comparisons are made to US military budget ($900B) and proposed Iran payments. Some blame libertarian and tech-bro ideology for enabling such cuts.