Ocean Policy Roundup
March 3-10, 2025
ESP Advisors is a policy consulting firm specializing in ocean and coastal issues. Our bipartisan team includes alumni from the offices of Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker (R-MS), House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-CA) and the late Rep. Don Young (R-AK), former Dean of the House and longtime ocean champion.
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Let’s dive in on what’s up in Washington.
Who’s in session?
The House and Senate are in this week. The Senate is expected to go out for its first recess of the year next week (Senate staffers - we see you and we wish you calm seas and time to catch up with the boss out of town next week!)
Make sure you have the ESP Advisors printable 2025 Congressional Schedule and our public 2025 Congressional Google calendar at your fingertips.
ICYMI: Check out our recent blog posts:
News Highlights
The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 (S.524) passed the full Senate by unanimous consent. The bill will now head to the House for consideration.
The recent mass firings at NOAA, initiated by the Department of Government Efficiency, have prompted the Center for Biological Diversity to file a FOIA request on the affected roles and the impacts on NOAA’s core mission to protect endangered marine species and manage marine conservation programs.
On Thursday, March 13, agency heads must submit plans to the White House detailing reductions in force (RIFs), office consolidations, and function eliminations.
Written by Emily
Government Shutdown Showdown: House Republican’s Stopgap Bill Faces Key Vote
House Republicans released their stopgap spending bill over the weekend as the clock ticks toward a potential government shutdown Friday at midnight. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA-04) is planning a Tuesday evening vote on the continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government at FY24 levels until September 30, 2025. If the bill clears the chamber, GOP leaders may send members home early for recess, putting pressure on the Senate to pass the measure without changes. President Donald Trump endorsed the seven-month funding extension.
The CR includes a $6 billion increase in defense spending and a cut of non-defense spending by $13 billion, with earmarks removed from the package. Cuts and impacts related to the full year CR include:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
NOAA Operations, Research, and Facilities (ORF) funding is set at $4.4 billion, a $148.5 million reduction from FY24 levels
Impacts to procurement projects such as satellites
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA’s environmental and management programs receive $3.2 billion (increase), covering enforcement and geographic programs
State and tribal assistance grants drop to $4.4 billion (decrease)
Cuts include $1.4 billion in earmarked funding for clean and safe drinking water grants
Science and technology programs cut to $756 million, with $2 million in research earmarks removed
US Geological Survey (USGS)
Funding decreased to $1.5 billion
Possible reductions in climate monitoring, water resources research, and earthquake hazard assessments
US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
Resource management funding reduced to $1.5 billion
Impacted programs may include endangered species protection, wildlife refuges, and habitat restoration
Army Corps of Engineers
New water management projects are prohibited unless already active at enactment
The Army Corps must submit an updated fiscal 2025 work plan
No additional funding for new infrastructure or climate resilience projects
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Conservation operations reduced to $895.8 million
Reduction may limit funding for voluntary conservation programs supporting farmers and landowners
No additional funding for watershed and habitat restoration projects
Democratic leaders have come out against the CR, calling it “a blank check to Elon Musk.”
Power Plays: Who is Really in Charge in the Executive Branch?
Meanwhile, deadlines from President Trump’s EOs are coming hard and fast. On Thursday, March 13, agency heads must submit plans to the White House detailing reductions in force (RIFs), office consolidations, and function eliminations. Be prepared.
Despite the February 18 EO “Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies,” which took power away from Department and Agency heads and consolidated it in the White House, Trump told his Cabinet Secretaries last week that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), can only make recommendations and lacks authority to unilaterally decide on staffing and policy matters within federal departments. This move comes after Elon Musk's mass firings and threats to government workers, which faced legal challenges and criticism from Democrats and some Republicans.
We’ll be watching these dynamics closely.
Not sure how to navigate the chaos? We’re here to help. Reach out: emily@espadvisor.com.
Important Dates and Deadlines
Friday, March 14: FY25 government funding deadline
Tuesday, September 30: FY26 government funding deadline
March 11, 2025
10:00 AM — Member Day Hearing; House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
10:00 AM — Water Infrastructure Financing: WIFIA And the Clean Water State Revolving Fund; House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee
March 12, 2025
10:00 AM — Executive Session including a vote on Michael Kratsios to be Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and a markup of 15 bills, including the Modernizing Access to Our Public Oceans Act (S.759) and the Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation Act (S.843); Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Introductions
Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced the Caribbean Basin Security Authorization Act (S.820). The bill would enhance U.S.-Caribbean security cooperation, expand natural disaster resilience, and counter malign China and Russian influence in the Caribbean.
Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI-02) introduced H.R.1832, which would establish Golden Sea Bream as an acceptable market name for the species of fish Stenotomus chrysops.
Sens. Ed Markey (D-MA) and John Cornyn (R-TX) reintroduced the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act (S.843). The bill would establish a new grant program at the Department of Commerce to fund rescue, recovery, and research of sea turtles in the U.S. Rep. Bill Keating (D-VA-09) leads the House version of the bill.
Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA-03) introduced H.R.1874, which would amend the Coastal Zone Management Act to require states to concur with certain federal actions related to coastal management.
Reps. Greg Murphy (R-NC-03) and David Rouzer (R-NC–07) reintroduced H.R.1885, which modifies the boundaries of North Carolina’s John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources (CBR) System Unit to include areas previously not considered part of the CBR System.
Rep. John James (R-MI-10), along with Members of the Great Lakes delegation, introduced H.Res.194, which would designate March 6, 2025 as Great Lakes Day.
Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) introduced the Hawai’i Native Species Conservation and Recovery Act (S.871). The bill would fund conservation and recovery efforts to protect more than 10,000 plants and animals native to the Hawaiian Islands. Reps. Ed Case (D-HI-01) and Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02) introduced the House version of the bill (H.R.1780).
Reps. Mike Quigley (D-IL-05) and Bill Huizenga (R-MI-04) reintroduced the Great Lakes Fishery Research Reauthorization Act (H.R.1809). The bill would reauthorize the Great Lakes Fishery Research program which supports the U.S. Geological Survey to conduct monitoring, scientific assessments, and research on Great Lakes fisheries.
Reps. Tim Walberg (R-MI-05), Bill Huizenga (R-MI-04), and Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) introduced the Great Lakes Mass Marking Program Act (H.R.1917). The bill would establish a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service program to implement mass tagging of hatchery fish in the Great Lakes basin.
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA-41) reintroduced the Federally Integrated Species Health (FISH) Act (H.R.1894). The bill would give the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sole authority over the management and regulation of anadromous species with respect to the Endangered Species Act.
Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR-04) and 15 Republican original cosponsors reintroduced the Endangered Species Act Amendments Act (H.R.1897). The bill aims to incentivize wildlife conservation on private lands and increase transparency and accountability in recovering listed species. The bill would prevent DOI from designating private land as critical habitat and require that removal of a species is not subject to judicial review.
Updates
The House passed a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of BOEM’s rule, “Protection of Marine Archeological Resources” (S.J.Res.11), which requires operators to submit archeological reports for any plans that disturb the seabed. The resolution will now head to the President’s desk to be signed into law.
The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 (S.524) passed the full Senate by unanimous consent. The bill will now head to the House for consideration.
Fisheries and Ecosystems
The Senate Commerce Committee Chair, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Ranking Member, Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), released separate statements on the passage of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 here and here, respectively.
Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Angela Aslobrooks (D-MD) led Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Democrats in requesting answers from EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin about his work at the agency.
Bipartisan leadership of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure raised concerns about efforts by the European Union to undermine the Jones Act in a letter to E.U. Ambassador to the United States, Jovita Neliupšienė.
Chair of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Rep. Mike Ezell (R-MS-04), released a statement on a recent subcommittee hearing highlighting the needs and challenges in the U.S. Coast Guard's modernization efforts.
Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Rick Larsen (D-WA-02) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) released their opening statements from the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation subcommittee hearing titled, “America Builds: Coast Guard Acquisitions and Infrastructure.”
NOAA released its California Current Integrated Ecosystem Assessment’s annual report, noting that the West Coast pulled out of a strong El Niño pattern in 2024 which will return upwelling to the area and improve productivity.
The Nature Conservancy and Trout Unlimited, both NOAA partners in habitat restoration, report that endangered Central California Coast coho salmon are returning to NOAA-funded restoration sites
The recent mass firings at NOAA, initiated by the Department of Government Efficiency, have prompted the Center for Biological Diversity to file a FOIA request on the affected roles and the impacts on NOAA’s core mission to protect endangered marine species and manage marine conservation programs.
The Center for Biological Diversity issued a statement after the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii held that the government improperly denied 20 coral species protections from climate change, the primary threat to their survival.
The latest World Meteorological Organization (WMO) forecasts indicate that cooler La Niña conditions are likely to transition to an ENSO-neutral state between March and June 2025.
Ocean Data and Technology
NOAA recently published an article detailing the ways NOAA Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) works to improve weather forecasting.
NOAA satellites have been tracking a significant early spring storm system moving across the central United States, bringing heavy snowfall, severe thunderstorms, and tornadoes.
Offshore Wind and Energy
The Trump Administration outlined the President’s actions since he took office to unleash America’s energy production.
House Natural Resources Committee Chair Bruce Westerman (R-AR-04) released a statement in response to S.J. Res. 11, which nullifies a Bureau of Offshore Energy Management (BOEM) rule requiring archeological reports for all offshore oil and gas exploration or development plans, passing the U.S. House of Representatives
The Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census has unveiled the discovery of 866 new marine species, including a guitar shark, a deep-sea mollusc with potential in cancer treatment development, and the first octocoral found in the Maldives. This initiative, launched in April 2023, aims to transform marine science by accelerating species identification processes, addressing the current lengthy timelines that can extend up to 14 years. The mission's broader goal is to document 100,000 new marine species in the coming years, enhancing our understanding of ocean biodiversity.