Story perspectives

Senate Blocks Funding, Saves $386M Ocean Sensor Network

6/19/2026

Summary

Story summary

Senators secured a Senate vote that blocked funding to dismantle the Ocean Observatories Initiative, a 900-sensor, $386 million program.
The National Science Foundation said it will halt removal and keep the network running.
Senator Jeff Merkley called the proposed dismantling ‘supreme stupidity’ and pledged advocacy for the data.
Senator Lisa Murkowski praised the reversal as a win for communities and fishermen, prompting an expert panel to assess operational and data needs.

History

Historical Context

Beginning in 2003, the National Science Foundation partnered with NASA on the 15-year EarthScope program, deploying roughly 1,100 GPS stations nationwide to monitor crustal motion. After EarthScope concluded in 2018, Congress later supported similar large-scale networks, a pattern echoed today as Senators Jeff Merkley and Lisa Murkowski protect the $386 million Ocean Observatories Initiative.

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Story summary

Senators secured a Senate vote that blocked funding to dismantle the Ocean Observatories Initiative, a 900-sensor, $386 million program.
The National Science Foundation said it will halt removal and keep the network running.
Senator Jeff Merkley called the proposed dismantling ‘supreme stupidity’ and pledged advocacy for the data.
Senator Lisa Murkowski praised the reversal as a win for communities and fishermen, prompting an expert panel to assess operational and data needs.

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