'It Is Not Acceptable': Maria Cantwell Slams Trump Administration For Slashing Science Funding

Forbes Breaking News

During a Senate Commerce Committee hearing last week, Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) spoke about the Trump Administration's cuts to federal science research.

Transcript

00:00We'll now turn to ranking member Cantwell for her opening remarks.

00:03Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and welcome, Mr. DeBar. Congratulations on your nomination.

00:07Welcome to your wife, and welcome to one of those energy secretaries here supporting you,

00:13Mr. Brouillette, and enjoyed working with both of you at the Department of Energy.

00:18I know this isn't the first time you've testified before a Senate hearing,

00:22and having been confirmed for the Under Secretary of Science at the Department of Engineering,

00:27Department of Energy. We work together in the implementation of not just the National

00:33Quantum Initiative, but your role in Hanford cleanup, and I very much appreciate that.

00:39The Deputy Secretary of Commerce plays a significant role in shaping the U.S. economy,

00:44and if confirmed, you'll be a representative for the day-to-day operations of the department

00:48in assisting American businesses and promoting policies that help us create economic growth.

00:52But your nomination comes at a time when we've had a significant period of disruption and chaos

00:59at the agency. Under Secretary Lutnik's leadership, I believe we've had a series of alarming decisions

01:05and actions that are damaging the opportunities for economic growth. First and foremost, the Minority

01:12Business Development Agency, a 56-year-old agency that Congress permanently authorized in 2021,

01:19has been dismantled. For those unfamiliar with the MBDA, I believe my colleague,

01:24Senator Wicker, was quite accurate when he said, I quote,

01:27the Minority Business Development Agency has been a lifeline for many minority businesses,

01:32owners, and entrepreneurs seeking to grow their businesses, end quote. And indeed, Secretary Lutnik

01:38testified before this committee that he would not support dismantling of the Minority Business

01:43Development Agency, which helped create and retain approximately 23,000 jobs

01:48jobs in fiscal year 2024 alone. This is about capacity building. This is about capacity building

01:55within a community that may not necessarily have the same access to capital, may not have the same

02:01parameters, and this agency has been quite successful. But within two months of his confirmation,

02:06he has fired all of its employees, canceled all of its grants, and even the sign that once marked the

02:13MBDA office at the Department of Commerce building has been pulled down under his watch. Meanwhile,

02:19the Department continues to slash essential workers at NOAA with approximately 2,500 employees of the

02:2712-person workforce fired or otherwise departing since the start of this administration. These staffing

02:33shortages are already impacting NOAA's core functions, including reduced and suspended weather balloon

02:40launches at many of our weather forecast offices. And I can't tell you how important this is for us,

02:47particularly related to fire season. These NOAA weather activities are giving us essential data

02:53about how best to prepare for fire season. And further cuts are expected in the coming weeks. On top of

03:00that, the Trump administration is pursuing a 2026 budget proposal that would reduce NOAA's budget by more

03:05than 27 percent, including a 75 percent cut to the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research,

03:12the closures of all its weather climate labs, and an 85 percent cut to the Office of Space Commerce.

03:19I can tell you this, Mr. DeBar, as somebody who ran a science organization, that we are going to hold this

03:26administration accountable for the cuts in science. It is not acceptable. Innovation is the way we're going to

03:32grow our economy. It is the way we are going to protect our industries that exist today. At the same

03:38time, the administration is calling for major reorganizations of NOAA, including moving out the

03:43National Fisheries Marine Service to the Department of Interior. Not sure why the most important

03:50management resource we have for our fisheries, having our science management system, we would give

03:56up to the Department of Interior. I'm particularly shocked to see this proposal, given that Mr. Lutnick promised

04:02to me during his confirmation hearing that, quote, I have no interest in separating NOAA, end quote,

04:08and that breaking up NOAA, quote, is not on my agenda, end quote. What changed? What's equally concerning

04:16is that the Office of Management Budget proposal to eliminate the Economic Development Administration

04:21entirely. I believe this would jeopardize important decisions that continue to help us grow

04:27our tech hubs and important investments that keep growing our economy across the United States.

04:34So I could go on and on about tariffs. While I appreciate many of the things that the chairman just

04:40mentioned in his tariff statement, yes, I probably would be more comfortable with you leading our tariff

04:46charge than the current secretary. But I can tell you this, tariffs are hurting small businesses today.

04:52They're significantly reducing our economic growth. They are significantly constraining opportunities.

05:01And people just may not even be in business by the time these deals are done. And I know that some

05:06people think that might be the price to pay. I do not. I do not believe in that view of an American economy

05:12where we lead on alliance building and we lead on moving forward on economic opportunities by opening

05:20up markets, particularly big opportunities that I think we have in front of us. So that's to say I

05:26very much appreciate, Mr. Navarro, your leadership in the past. I'm outlining the big challenges I see

05:32in front of you and stabilizing the agency's core mission. Look forward to hearing the answers to our

05:38questions today. But again, welcome to you and congratulations on your nomination.

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