Committee Leaders Amo, Huffman, Lofgren, and Dexter Demand Information on NOAA Lease Terminations

March 14, 2025 Press Release The leaders released a list of 34 office leases identified by the Trump administration to be up for termination, along with the target closure dates. WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Committee on Natural Resources (HNR) Ranking Member Jared Huffman (CA-2), Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (SST) Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), HNR Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight Ranking Member Maxine Dexter (OR-3), and SST Subcommittee on Environment Ranking Member Gabe Amo (RI-1) sent a letter to Department of Commerce Secretary Lutnick demanding information on the Trump administration’s apparent plan to terminate at least 34 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) office leases nationwide. “Working families rely every day on the services that NOAA provides from these facilities,” said the Ranking Members. “The 34 offices that will be impacted by these closures are located across 17 states and territories, meaning the consequences of these closures will be far-reaching.” The Members emphasize the vital NOAA services all Americans rely on to keep them safe and informed: “NOAA provides critical information about extreme weather and coastal hazards, manages fisheries, conserves coastal and marine resources, and protects American fishermen and consumers. Closing field facilities will compromise NOAA’s ability to provide these services and damage the local communities and economies that rely on them.” They note that while closures hit red and blue districts alike, the Administration seems to disproportionately respond to feedback from Republican Members, meaning that Americans lack equal representation under President Trump: “The National Weather Service (NWS) is at risk of losing at least three offices, including a weather center in Norman, Oklahoma. Fortunately for all who rely on NWS’s forecasts, and especially for the residents in and around Norman, that office may have won a reprieve after a House Republican spoke to Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This is not the first reported instance of a Republican legislator being able to defend their constituents from DOGE’s indiscriminate cuts.” These planned office closures occur in the following districts: Rep. Nick Begich (AK-AL) – National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) offices in Juneau, Seward, and Sitka with Planned Termination Dates (PTDs) of 6/30/2025, 6/30/2025, and 12/31/2025 Rep. Jared Huffman (CA-02) – NMFS offices in Eureka and Arcata with PTDs of 9/30/2025 Rep. Salud Carbajal (CA-24) – National Ocean Service (NOS) office in Santa Barbara with PTD of 5/31/2026 Rep. Laurel Lee (FL-15) – NMFS office in Seffner with PTD of 6/30/2025 Rep. Carlos Gimenez (FL-28) – Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in Key Largo with PTD of 8/31/2025 Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20) – NMFS office in Sunrise with PTD of 9/30/2025 Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) two NMFS offices, one NOS office, and one General Counsel office in Saint Petersburg with PTDs of 12/31/2025 Del. James Moylan (Guam) – NMFS office in Barrigada with PTD of 6/20/2026 Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) – Mauna Loa Observatory in Hilo with PTD of 8/31/2025 Rep. Mike Simpson (ID-02) – Oceanic and Atmospheric Research office in Idaho Falls with PTD of 8/31/2025 and NMFS office in Boise with PTD of 9/30/2025 Rep. Cleo Fields (LA-06) – NMFS office in Baton Rouge with PTD of 8/31/2025 Rep. Andy Harris (MD-01) – NMFS office in Salisbury with PTD of 8/31/2025 Rep. Glenn Ivey (MD-04) – National Weather Service (NWS) office with no listed PTD Rep. Bill Keating (MA-09) – NMFS office with no listed PTD Rep. Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02) – NMFS office in Northfield with PTD of 8/31/2025 Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) – NMFS office in Wall Township with PTD of 9/30/2025 Del. Kimberlyn King-Hinds (Northern Mariana Islands) – NMFS office in Saipan with PTD of 8/31/2025 Rep. Tom Cole (OK-04) – National Weather Center in Norman with PTD of 9/30/2025 Rep. Andrea Salinas (OR-06) – NWS office in Salem with PTD of 6/30/2025 Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) – NMFS office in Astoria with no listed PTD Rep. Seth Magaziner (RI-02) – NMFS office in Narragansett with PTD of 9/30/2025 Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) – NOS office in Barre with PTD of 9/30/2025 Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-03) – two NMFS offices in Hampton Roads with PTDs of 6/30/2025 Rep. Emily Randall (WA-06) – NOS office in Port Angeles with PTD of 8/31/2025 Rep. Kim Schrier (WA-08) – NMFS office in Ellensburg with PTD of 1/31/2026 Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) – NMFS office in Bellingham with PTD of 8/17/2026 The letter can be found here . Related Items Ranking Members Amo, Lofgren Decry Trump Firing NOAA Employees RI Delegation Demands Answers from Trump’s Pick to Lead Commerce About DOGE Storming NOAA & Attempting to Downsize the Agency’s Critical Capabilities Amo Demands Answers on DOGE Access to Crucial Data Systems at NOAA Amo Highlights Rhode Island Jobs and Blue Economy Leadership in NOAA Budget Hearing RI Delegation, NOAA Breaks Ground on a New Marine Operations Center Facility in Newport