Washington, D.C. March 16, 2017 – The following statement was issued by Addie Haughey, associate director of Government Relations at Ocean Conservancy, in reaction to the Trump administration’s proposed Fiscal Year 2018 budget, which would deeply impact the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) housed under the Department of Commerce:

“Ocean Conservancy is alarmed by the impact the Trump administration’s budget will have on NOAA. The proposed budget would cut the Department of Commerce by $1.5 billion, likely confirming reports that NOAA would face a $990 million cut from its annual budget.

“The budget released this morning completely eliminates over $250 million in targeted NOAA grants and programs supporting coastal and marine management, research, and education including Sea Grant. It identifies these as ‘lower priority’ while at the same the time recognizing that these grants primarily benefit industry and State and local stakeholders.

“The message the budget sends is that our ocean — the engine that drives an economy worth $359 billion and supports millions of people — simply not a priority for the Trump administration. It is cutting bone deep into the lives, livelihoods and safety of hundreds of thousands of coastal communities from Alaska to Hawaii, Oregon to Florida.

“Ocean Conservancy is deeply concerned that these cuts will have immediate negative impacts that ripple far out into the future. This first volley to cripple NOAA in the next fiscal year cannot stand. We urge Congress to do the right thing by enabling NOAA to continue serving as a reliable, respected and important partner to the people of this nation.”

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Addie Haughey is available for interviews upon request.

Ocean Conservancy is working with you to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. Together, we create science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it. For more information, visit www.oceanconservancy.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.