Captain Ed Enos is deeply familiar with the challenges of navigating Hawaii’s harbors. As a harbor pilot, he relies heavily on the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) to access crucial data like wind speeds, wave swells, and ocean currents. This real-time information is vital for guiding ships safely to the dock, especially in the treacherous, early morning darkness.
However, recent developments threaten the sustainability of this essential service. President Donald Trump has suggested stripping away federal funding for regional operations of the IOOS. For professionals like Enos, whose job depends on accurate marine data, the prospect is alarming. Scientists concur, warning that the decision could impede efforts to collect real-time information imperative not just for navigation, but also for tsunami evacuation planning and hurricane prediction.
The IOOS, established around 20 years ago, operates through 11 regional associations, including those in Alaska, Hawaii, and South Carolina. These groups consist of a wide array of stakeholders such as academic researchers, conservation entities, and business interests. They utilize an assortment of tools like buoys and radar systems to track myriad oceanographic data points: atmospheric pressure, water temperature, current strength, and much more.
This network comprehensively oversees American coastlines, the Great Lakes, and other marine and aquatic environments. Data accumulated by these associations are uploaded in real time, providing integral information for a range of users, from freighters to government agencies like the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard.
Contributions from these networks extend to critical weather service forecasts and even applications such as those showing tsunami escape routes in real time. Hawaii’s association employs collected data to monitor severe weather phenomena such as hurricanes as well as tiger shark activity, reflecting the breadth and depth of its utility. They also track harmful algal blooms that can close beaches and threaten marine life. Such insights allow fishermen to find more fruitful waters and avoid sterile zones.
While these associations aren’t federal entities, they rely heavily on federal funding delivered through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The present budget accommodates $43.5 million for these networks. Meanwhile, some Republican lawmakers have advocated for boosting funding to $56 million annually between 2026 and 2030.
Recently, a memo from the Trump administration proposed sizeable cuts within the Department of Commerce, which administers NOAA, potentially phasing out federal support for these regional operations starting in 2026. The document suggests this despite instructing the commerce department to prioritize ocean and weather data collection, a contradiction that has baffled IOOS stakeholders.
This potential policy shift has sent ripples of concern through those who work within these networks. Jack Barth, an oceanographer from Oregon State University, underscored the significance of these networks in providing vital economic data. “Why dismantle something that isn’t broken?” he inquires.
Uncertainty looms over the networks’ future, especially with the federally funded fiscal year beginning each October 1. For any new budget to take effect, it must first pass through both legislative chambers and obtain presidential approval, creating room for last-minute adjustments or reversals. In the meantime, network leaders cautiously hope for alternative funding solutions but acknowledge that sustaining operations without federal backing would be challenging.
If the budget cuts are implemented, some associations might survive by monetizing their data or approaching non-federal sources for financing. Nonetheless, the threat to long-built collaborations and the availability of information remains significant. The absence of consolidated data access could lead to critical gaps that would compromise safety and environmental monitoring efforts.
“People have depended on us for dependability,” expressed Melissa Iwamoto, director of Hawaii’s regional network. “Facing the chance of disappearing came as a shock.”