NOAA scientists face restrictions on foreign collaboration

Staff at a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have been told to halt contact with foreign nationals, raising concerns about the future of international scientific cooperation.

Scott Dance reports for The Washington Post.

In short:

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service has ordered employees to stop communicating with foreign nationals, affecting international agreements on seafood catch limits and tsunami tracking.
The restrictions come as the Trump administration reviews government science policies, with some NOAA websites and diversity-related pages already removed.
Democratic lawmakers are pushing back, fearing further efforts to weaken the agency and limit research on climate and environmental issues.

Key quote:

“Nerves are definitely frayed.”

— Craig McLean, former NOAA official

Why this matters:

NOAA plays a critical role in weather forecasting, climate research and fisheries management. Limiting international collaboration could hinder efforts to track natural disasters, enforce environmental protections and maintain scientific integrity. Scientists fear the agency is being sidelined, echoing concerns from Trump’s first term.

www.washingtonpost.com

NOAA scientists face restrictions on foreign collaboration

Solar powers record share of Britain’s electricity mix in July

How a ‘perfect storm’ spread fire, heat and smoke across the Northern Hemisphere

Wildfire smoke is now the primary pollutant affecting pregnancy, study shows

Germany: As temperatures rise, so does climate skepticism

Extreme heat has transformed what Summer means across generations in Europe

‘Climate change kills’: Pedro Sánchez speaks plain truth to Spain’s deniers

Fishing closures expand as record heat warms Western rivers

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.