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Fact Sheets

President Donald J. Trump is Promoting America’s Ocean Economy

Energy & Environment

Issued on:

STREAMLINING FEDERAL OCEAN POLICY: President Donald J. Trump is establishing a more streamlined process for Federal coordination on ocean policy.

  • President Donald J. Trump is signing an Executive Order establishing an interagency Ocean Policy Committee to streamline Federal coordination.
    • The Ocean Policy Committee will be co-chaired by the Council on Environmental Quality and Office of Science and Technology Policy.
  • The Ocean Policy Committee will focus on growing the ocean economy, prioritizing scientific research, coordinating resources and data sharing, and engaging with stakeholders.
    • The Executive Order promotes expanded access by States, businesses, and the public to Federal data and information.
    • The Executive Order maximizes taxpayer dollars by coordinating priority research.
  • President Trump is rolling back excessive bureaucracy created by the previous Administration.
    • The Executive Order replaces a prior order issued in 2010 that had created the overly bureaucratic National Ocean Council and 9 Regional Planning Bodies.
    • The National Ocean Council included 27 departments and agencies, and over 20 committees, subcommittees, and working groups.
    • The new, streamlined Ocean Policy Committee will have a Subcommittee for Science and Technology and a Subcommittee for Resource Management.

EMPOWERING STATES: President Trump is empowering States by eliminating duplicative Federal bureaucracy.

  • President Trump’s Executive Order also eliminates the duplicative, Federally-driven Regional Planning Bodies established by the previous Administration.
    • The Regional Planning Bodies are unnecessary, as States have already voluntarily formed Regional Ocean Partnerships.
  • The Executive Order supports appropriate Federal engagement with Regional Ocean Partnerships, while clarifying the scope of Federal support for the Partnerships.

PROMOTING A STRONG OCEAN ECONOMY: President Trump is reducing unnecessary bureaucracy and regulatory uncertainty which serve as headwinds for America’s ocean industries.

  • The President’s Executive Order will remove unnecessary Federal bureaucracy, provide regulatory certainty, and increase public access to Federal data and information.
  • Ocean industries employ millions of workers and support a strong American economy.
    • In 2015, the ocean and Great Lakes economy contributed $320 billion to U.S. gross domestic product and supported 3.2 million jobs.
    • United States fisheries help support our nation and provide tremendous export opportunities.
    • The U.S. economy depends on maritime commerce to transport goods and materials.