Sea Grant Program Targeted for Elimination Under Budget Cuts Alex Elvin, Vineyard Gazette

A draft of the federal budget has called for eliminating the National Sea Grant College Program, raising alarm among aquaculturists, town officials and others who have benefited from its scientific research funding and free technical assistance for coastal communities. The leaked memo from the federal Office of Management and Budget, first reported by the Washington Post, aims to slash funding for a number of federal agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, Transportation Security Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The memo reportedly cites the Trump administration’s goal of rebuilding the military. NOAA would face the steepest cuts, including $513 million from its Satellite and Information Service, and $126 million from its Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. The $73 million Sea Grant Program, which is also part of NOAA, would be eliminated entirely. https://vineyardgazette.com/news/2017/03/15/sea-grant-program-targeted-elimination-under-federal-budget-cuts