PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • March 3, 2025
The Trump administration has agreed to renegotiate funding for Maine Sea Grant, one of the state’s key coastal resource programs, following conversations between U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnik and U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. The renegotiation would put funding back on the table so long as the work supported by the program “focuses on advancing Maine’s coastal economies, working waterfronts and sustainable fisheries,” Collins’ office said in an emailed statement Wednesday afternoon. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Saturday that it was rescinding the $4.5 million award that supports marine science research, workforce development and education across the state for four years. It’s unclear when the money would be restored and when projects could resume. Maine Sea Grant will need to reapply for funding.