House Republicans buck Trump on NOAA cuts

E&E News

15-07-2025

House Republican appropriators would cut NOAA by nearly $400 million for fiscal 2026, but they're rejecting deeper reductions proposed by the White House.
The Commerce-Justice-Science bill — released Monday and up for subcommittee markup Tuesday — represents a blowback to the administration's efforts to dismantle the science agency, including dissolving the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research.
The legislation would still amount to a 6 percent cut from current levels, and Republicans focused more on its law enforcement portions than science provisions.
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'This bill importantly balances federal funding to support American values and the priorities of the Trump Administration by investing in programs that strengthen our economy and policies that protect our constitutional rights,' said Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.), chair of the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee.
'This bill also ensures that America remains the global leader in space exploration as adversaries like China ramp up global aggression,' he said.
Republicans say the bill includes 'reducing spending on reckless climate change efforts' and 'right-size the bureaucracy of the federal government by reducing salaries and expenses where appropriate.'
Committee Democrats said the bill 'continues Republicans' attacks on America's scientific and economic competitiveness by cutting billions from science, technology development, STEM education, and aeronautics research of NASA and the National Science Foundation.'
The legislation would slash funding for independent ocean species research, with a 78 percent cut for the Marine Mammal Commission, established in 1972 under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
The National Science Foundation would see a 23 percent cut of $2 billion. That's significantly less than the 57 percent proposed drop included in the Trump administration budget request.
The Republican bill would hold funding levels steady for NASA, at roughly $24.8 billion, compared to a 25 percent cut under the White House budget proposal of $18.8 billion.
The House bill would codify President Donald Trump's executive orders to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs and prohibit federal funding 'for DEI efforts and critical race theory.'
The Senate Appropriations Committee planned to release its own Commerce-Justice-Science bill last week but a dispute over FBI headquarters thwarted that effort.
But lawmakers discussing the bill said it would include full funding for the National Weather Service. Senators are working on their spending bills on a bipartisan basis.