Trump FY 2027 budget signals deep concerns for NOAA, ocean science, and disaster preparedness. The FY2027 budget proposal from President Trump lays out significant changes to federal funding for ocean and climate programmes, including cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the nation’s frontline defence against extreme weather, coastal hazards, and climate-driven disasters. This disastrous proposal raises concern about our nation’s ability to respond to increasingly frequent and severe extreme weather events, protect coastal communities, and prepare for the growing impacts of climate change.
Specifically, the White House is proposing $1.6 billion in cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), targeting climate research programs and educational grants. The White House claims that these programmes and grants are “not aligned with Administration policy of ending Green New Scam initiatives.”
President Trump’s budget doubles down on his fossil-fuel-only energy agenda despite significant volatility and skyrocketing gas prices following his war in Iran. Expanding offshore drilling won’t lower prices here in the U.S. – oil is sold on the global market. The fastest way to lower energy bills is to invest in cheaper, cleaner energy like wind and solar but the proposed budget proposes further eroding investments in clean energy.
Congress ultimately rejected the steep spending cuts and reorganisations at NOAA that President Trump proposed last year; this year, it looks like the bipartisan suite of members who held strong for NOAA’s data and services will need to fight back against the Administration’s reckless cuts once more
These cuts extend beyond research facilities and education programmes. American’s health and safety is at risk as the Trump Administration seeks to sow chaos for the millions of Americans who rely on NOAA every day. Experts warn that cutting vital NOAA programmes could:
- Undermine our safety and security: The general public could lose access to weather forecasts, emergency storm alerts, and critical preparedness programs if NOAA’s operations are stalled. In 2024, climate-related natural disasters and extreme weather events cost Americans over $182 billion.
- Jeopardise vital American industries and economies: Every day, communities across the US and industries including energy, agriculture, fishing, tourism and transportation rely on NOAA services, research, and data for accurate weather forecasts, tide charts, water quality data, and storm alerts.
- Reduces NOAA’s Operations, Research, and Grants funding by $1.6 billion
- Terminates climate research, data, and grant programmes
- Targets ocean organisations and universities that receive funding related to climate, education, or equity. This eliminates:
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- NOAA Climate Adaptation Partnerships
- Various climate resilience and habitat grants that focused on DEI
- The “Policy Experience in Equity Climate and Health” fellowship
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