The Mauna Loa Observatory, a cornerstone of global climate research since 1958, is at risk of closure as part of sweeping federal cost-cutting measures. Located on the slopes of the world’s largest active volcano in Hawaii, the observatory has been instrumental in tracking greenhouse gas levels and producing the iconic Keeling Curve, which documents the rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations.
The office in Hilo, Hawaii, which manages the observatory, is among 30 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) facilities listed for potential lease termination. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire Elon Musk, has proposed terminating 793 federal leases, including 19 NOAA facilities, to save an estimated $500 million. However, this figure represents less than 0.1% of the $1.3 trillion defense budget for fiscal year 2025.
The potential closure has raised concerns among scientists and environmentalists. Ralph Keeling, a climate science professor at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and son of the Keeling Curve’s creator, emphasized the observatory’s importance, calling its data “vital baseline information” for understanding climate change.
The observatory’s closure would follow a series of setbacks for NOAA, including staffing reductions. In February, 1,300 NOAA employees were terminated, with another 1,000 layoffs planned, reducing the agency’s workforce by nearly 20%. These cuts have already impacted NOAA’s ability to provide critical climate data and services.
The General Services Administration (GSA) has also proposed selling 443 federal buildings, including NOAA facilities, as part of the Trump administration’s cost-cutting initiatives. Critics argue that these measures undermine essential scientific research and environmental monitoring.
The Mauna Loa Observatory’s potential closure highlights the challenges facing climate science amid federal budget cuts, raising questions about the future of global climate monitoring and research.