Dismantling ocean system another step backward for U.S.

In recent days, the New York Times reported that the Trump administration is dismantling a $368 million decade-old ocean observation system that monitors coastal environments and powerful currents that impact the global climate.

The administration has tried to kill the program before, but Congress always put the money back.

Now ships will begin this month to pull up 900 specially constructed deep-sea instruments designed to withstand the pressure of great depths and the corrosive effects of seawater. The collected data, which are part of a multinational effort to understand changes in the ocean environment, will no longer be gathered.

In justifying this action, Michael England, a spokesman for the National Science Foundation (NSF), said the decision to dismantle the network, known as the Ocean Observatories Initiative …

“ … Aligns with N.S.F.’s wider strategy to have a nimbler approach to prioritizing support for evolving scientific priorities and emerging technologies as well as a deliberate approach to smart life cycle management within its portfolio of research infrastructure.”

What?

Don’t bother to read that again. It doesn’t make any more sense the second time through. Word salad does not begin to describe it. Not sure, but I think Mr. England is trolling us.

Translation: There is no real justification for ending the program other than the president’s hostility toward anything that has to do with climate change, multilateralism or science in general (unless it is weapons technology such as his golden dome anti-missile shield).

Scientists commenting on the decision chose their words carefully because they understand that they live in an environment where grants and years of work can disappear in an explosion of mean-spirited retribution.

However, Dr. Craig McLean, who was acting chief scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the first Trump administration, did not mince words.

“This reflects the further lack of understanding that the current administration has of scientific value and scientific merit,” Dr. McLean said. “By dismantling such a system, we push the United States back yet again into a rear seat in global scientific leadership.”

China will be happy to jump into the driver’s seat.

In the past week, the administration also released a 400-page blueprint that would impact the awarding of most federal grants. All would have to be approved by Trump political appointees and meet certain political/ideological criteria, regardless of what Congress has authorized.

Some 7,800 research grants have been terminated so far, with more promised. In Illinois, the Center for American Progress reported that universities have seen $226 million in grants terminated and another $94 million is on the chopping block. Across the country, this amounts to billions of dollars.

Sure, one can find some studies that can best be described as “fringe” and the administration will hold them up as examples of a waste of taxpayer money. However, this is why the NSF, NIH and other organizations have panels of scientists to evaluate proposals.

Who should decide what is worthy — senior scientists or the 20-somethings that were part of Elon Musk’s DOGE crew?

Does one really have to remind the people who make government funding decisions that investing in scientific research provides a proven boost to economic growth and the creation of jobs? Researchers at Texas A&M University calculate that 20% to 25% of all U.S. productivity growth since World War II can be attributed to non-defense government R&D spending.

Whether or not someone challenges the termination of the Ocean Observatories Initiative remains to be seen, but expect one messy court fight after another, since the president seems to believe that Article I of the Constitution does not apply to him.

Someone should get him a new red ball cap with the letters MASA embroidered.

Make America Stupid Again.

• Keith Peterson, of Lake Barrington, served 29 years as a press and cultural officer for the United States Information Agency and Department of State. He was chief editorial writer of the Daily Herald 1984-86. His book “American Dreams: The Story of the Cyprus Fulbright Commission” is available from Amazon.com.