The reduction of the U.S. ocean monitoring system could have widespread consequences. Farmers in the U.S. and South America rely on El Niño forecasts to plan for droughts or floods, directly affecting agricultural productivity. The loss of accurate ocean data could also hinder early warning systems for tropical storms and cyclones, increasing risks to life and property. Additionally, the economic costs of climate-related disasters, which reached $177 billion in the U.S. in 2024 alone, could rise further without reliable forecasting tools. Experts emphasize that the loss of this data would not only impact science but also have tangible economic and safety repercussions.