The U.S. agency for managing our ocean and coasts and monitoring weather and climate is under threat. Coastal leaders are speaking out on why NOAA matters!
Show Your Support for NOAA: Take Action & Contact Your Representatives Today!
Since the federal administration began its assault on the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in early February, the situation has only gotten more alarming. Despite some favorable court decisions that provided temporary reprieve, the White House and DOGE have barreled ahead with plans to fire staff, close offices, and dismantle NOAA programs that protect our ocean, coasts, and Great Lakes and provide life-saving weather forecasting.
Last week, reports surfaced that the President’s budget proposal for FY 2026 will cut the agency’s budget by $1.7 billion. The proposal slashes the National Ocean Service in half, with no funding for critical programs like Coastal Zone Management, Coastal Resilience, and National Estuarine Research Reserves. The administration is seeking to end nearly all climate research conducted by NOAA, with plans to eliminate climate research centers and cut hundreds of climate scientists who study human-driven global warming.
Vipe Desai, Executive Director, Surf Industry Members Association: “NOAA plays a vital role in sustaining the surf community and industry.”
The White House budget proposal doesn’t just gut funding for one of our nation’s most important agencies — it attacks its core mission of natural resource protection and serving the public through weather forecasting and climate science. From the seafood we eat to the beaches we visit to the storm warnings we depend on, NOAA’s programs provide essential benefits to all Americans.
The Public Rallies to Support NOAA
With NOAA under threat, a groundswell of support is building across the United States. In the days following the administration’s initial attacks, rapidly organized NOAA support rallies drew hundreds of people to events in Washington, D.C., and other cities. Over a dozen members of Congress participated and pledged their commitment to the embattled agency. By early April, NOAA supporters were joining millions of citizens in Hands Off rallies organized in all 50 states to protest the administration’s policies, including unwarranted attacks on federal agencies.
Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, Executive Director of Azul. “The impacts will be far-reaching for all communities, especially Latino communities.”
Business leaders are speaking up for NOAA and the support it provides for ocean recreation, tourism, and fisheries industries valued at $520 billion annually. “From protecting coastal ecosystems and surf breaks to providing accurate swell and weather forecasts, NOAA plays a vital role in sustaining the surf community and industry," said Vipe Desai, Executive Director of the Surf Industry Members Association. “Cuts to NOAA’s staff and budget threaten not just scientific research, but the real-world tools and protections that surfers, coastal businesses, and ocean-dependent communities rely on every day.”
Grant Bixby, Real Estate Broker and Founding Member of BAPPC. “NOAA helps protect people, property, and the environment.”
Over 900 businesses and groups have already joined together to urge Congress to oppose actions by the administration to impede the critical services and functions of NOAA. These include Grant Bixby, a real estate broker in Newport Beach, CA, and founding member of the Business Alliance for Protecting the Pacific Coast (BAPPC), who spoke on NOAA’s importance to communities and coastal economies. “The NOAA cuts will cost Americans dearly in lives, property damage, and environmental damage,” said Bixby. “NOAA helps us understand how weather and climate affect our lives.”
The attacks on NOAA also threaten National Marine Sanctuaries, which protect outstanding ocean ecosystems and marine wildlife populations. This includes Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, which protects the only barrier coastal reef in the continental U.S. and is a renowned recreational resource for fishing, boating, diving, and much more. NOAA recently adopted a Restoration Blueprint for the sanctuary to support this treasured marine ecosystem amidst growing challenges from climate and human pressures. Unfortunately, proposed cuts could close many of the sanctuary's science and restoration efforts.
Katie Cleek, Vice Chair, Surfrider Florida Keys. “Without NOAA, we risk losing more than coral — we risk losing the local livelihoods, culture, and economy that depend on it."
As a marine conservationist and scuba diver trainer, Katie Cleek, Vice Chair of Surfrider’s Florida Keys Chapter, understands the importance of NOAA to protecting the Keys. She works with community and industry leaders on sustainable tourism strategies. "NOAA’s work is foundational to protecting Florida’s Coral Reef — and when that support is cut, the effects are devastating,” said Cleek. “These reefs aren’t just vital ecosystems; they’re the heartbeat of our coastal communities. They support jobs in tourism, fishing, diving, restoration, and so much more.”
NOAA also supports fishing communities and sustainable seafood for millions of people. From conducting stock assessments to restoring fish habitat to collaborating with fishers on gear improvements, NOAA ensures that U.S. fisheries are among the healthiest in the world. NOAA’s marine forecasts also help keep our nation’s fishing fleets safe. Bob Kemp, a commercial fisherman in Newport, Oregon, depends on NOAA to carry out his profession. “The science of weather forecasting is of critical importance to me,” said Kemp. “I’m providing something my community needs.”
Bob Kemp, commercial fisherman from Newport, Oregon. NOAA data and forecasts have helped his business thrive.
Congress Debates NOAA Funding
On April 4, Congressional leaders on the House Natural Resources Committee hosted an issues forum to discuss the escalating attacks on NOAA by the Trump administration and DOGE. Panelists’ testimony described how staffing cuts to the agency would jeopardize everything from disaster warnings and public safety to the stability of coastal economies and America’s ability to respond to the climate crisis. Marce Gutiérrez-Graudiņš, Executive Director of Azul, spoke on NOAA’s importance to communities of color threatened by climate change and extreme weather. ”These cuts are reckless and will put our lives and livelihoods directly in harm's way.”
With Congress starting its work on the FY 2026 budget, public engagement is essential to protecting NOAA for the coming year. While the administration's attacks are alarming, Congress has the ultimate authority to approve the agency’s budget. That’s why Surfrider is urging our federal leaders in Congress to support NOAA. From business owners to environmental justice leaders to fishermen, the public is speaking out on why NOAA must be saved. Now, it’s your turn to add your voice.
Take Action and Tell our Federal Leaders to Protect NOAA!