The Wednesday announcement followed a meeting involving Collins, the lone Republican in Maine’s congressional delegation, the director of Maine Sea Grant and other program advocates, after which Collins said she spoke with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
U.S. Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, and U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, a Democrat who represents Maine’s 1st District, also sent Lutnick a letter demanding the Trump administration reverse its “ill-advised decision.” King and Pingree said in a joint statement Wednesday afternoon that the University of Maine “should not have to ‘reapply’ for funding that was improperly taken away from them in the first place.”
“It is critical that the federal government honor its commitment to supporting research and development in coastal communities to ensure the future success and resilience of Maine’s marine economy and immediately restore the Maine Sea Grant’s full funding,” Pingree and King said.
The NOAA informed the University of Maine on February 28 that it was immediately terminating the current $4.5 million four-year grant that was entering its second year.
Though the national program has partnerships with higher-learning organizations in more than 30 states and the territories of Guam and Puerto Rico, Maine’s program was the only one in New England to lose funding and may have been the only one in the nation.
The termination notice came suddenly, with the NOAA only saying Maine’s program activities “are no longer relevant to the focus of the Administration’s priorities and program objectives.” But it also came days after Trump and Mills had a testy exchange during an event with other governors at the White House over Maine’s policies allowing transgender female athletes to compete in sports in alignment with their gender identity.
A memo from Vice Admiral Nancy Hann, who is currently performing the duties of the NOAA’s administrator and under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere, said the negotiations will “ensure that the American people, including hardworking Mainers like lobstermen and fishermen, receive the ...
U.S. Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, and U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, a Democrat who represents Maine’s 1st District, also sent Lutnick a letter demanding the Trump administration reverse its “ill-advised decision.” King and Pingree said in a joint statement Wednesday afternoon that the University of Maine “should not have to ‘reapply’ for funding that was improperly taken away from them in the first place.”
“It is critical that the federal government honor its commitment to supporting research and development in coastal communities to ensure the future success and resilience of Maine’s marine economy and immediately restore the Maine Sea Grant’s full funding,” Pingree and King said.
The NOAA informed the University of Maine on February 28 that it was immediately terminating the current $4.5 million four-year grant that was entering its second year.
Though the national program has partnerships with higher-learning organizations in more than 30 states and the territories of Guam and Puerto Rico, Maine’s program was the only one in New England to lose funding and may have been the only one in the nation.
The termination notice came suddenly, with the NOAA only saying Maine’s program activities “are no longer relevant to the focus of the Administration’s priorities and program objectives.” But it also came days after Trump and Mills had a testy exchange during an event with other governors at the White House over Maine’s policies allowing transgender female athletes to compete in sports in alignment with their gender identity.
A memo from Vice Admiral Nancy Hann, who is currently performing the duties of the NOAA’s administrator and under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere, said the negotiations will “ensure that the American people, including hardworking Mainers like lobstermen and fishermen, receive the ...
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The Weekly Packet (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 13, 2025