This chapter covers trade, patents and the weather. It says the department has lost its way. Its biggest idea is to break up the weather and ocean agency. It also wants tighter rules on selling tech abroad.
The document says “should”Who acts: President, CongressHow: legislationp. 664 in the PDF
What the document says
“The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) should be dismantled and many of its functions eliminated, sent to other agencies, privatized, or placed under the control of states and territories.”
This appears in a list of structural changes the chapter says the next President should consider. The agency houses the National Weather Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service and four other offices, and the chapter records that it takes $6 billion of the department's $12 billion operating budget and more than half its staff. A later passage says the agency has become one of the main drivers of what it calls the climate change alarm industry and is harmful to future prosperity, that this is not to say it is useless but that its current organization corrupts its useful functions, and that it should be broken up and downsized.
What the document actually says
“The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) should be dismantled and many of its functions eliminated, sent to other agencies, privatized, or placed under the control of states and territories.”
That sentence, in plain words
Break up the weather and ocean agency. Close some parts. Move others, sell some off, or hand them to the states.
What this is about
One agency runs the weather service and watches the oceans. The book says it is too big. It says it drives alarm about the climate. It wants it broken up.
What is disputed
What this means is contested
Widely reported as a proposal to abolish the National Weather Service. The chapter does not say that. It proposes breaking up the parent agency and separately says the Weather Service should focus on gathering data and 'fully commercialize its forecasting operations', which leaves the forecasting function in private hands rather than ending it. Readers who describe this as abolition point to the combination of dismantling the parent, commercializing forecasts and downsizing; readers who reject it point to the chapter saying the agency is not useless and naming data-gathering as a continuing public role.
The document says “should”Who acts: NOAA, CommerceHow: internal managementp. 675 in the PDF
What the document says
“the NWS should fully commercialize its forecasting operations.”
The chapter states that Americans rely on forecasts produced not by the Weather Service but by private companies such as AccuWeather, that studies have found private forecasts more reliable, and that the Weather Service supplies the data those companies use and should focus on data gathering. It adds that the service should be a candidate to become a performance-based organization.
What the document actually says
“the NWS should fully commercialize its forecasting operations.”
That sentence, in plain words
The weather service should let private firms do the forecasts.
What this is about
The weather service makes forecasts and warnings. Private firms make them too, using its data. The book says the private firms should do the forecasting.
The document says “should”Who acts: Commerce, NOAAHow: internal managementp. 676 in the PDF
What the document says
“Data collected by the department should be presented neutrally, without adjustments intended to support any one side in the climate debate.”
The chapter makes this point while reviewing the work of the National Hurricane Center and the environmental satellite data centers, which it says provide important public safety and business functions and are used by forecasters and scientists internationally. It notes that data continuity is an important issue in climate science.
What the document actually says
“Data collected by the department should be presented neutrally, without adjustments intended to support any one side in the climate debate.”
That sentence, in plain words
Show the data plainly. Do not change it to help one side of the climate argument.
What this is about
The government collects climate data. The book says it should be published as it is. It says no changes should be made to favor one side.
The document says “could”Who acts: Congress, CommerceHow: legislationp. 676 in the PDF
What the document says
“These functions could be transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Geological Survey to increase efficiency.”
The chapter notes that survey operations have historically accounted for almost half the National Ocean Service budget, and separately asks that the expansion of the National Marine Sanctuaries System be reviewed.
What the document actually says
“These functions could be transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Geological Survey to increase efficiency.”
That sentence, in plain words
Two other agencies could take on this work.
What this is about
One office charts the seabed and coasts. That is about half its budget. The book says two other agencies could do it.
The document says “should”Who acts: PresidentHow: executive orderp. 676 in the PDF
What the document says
“Withdraw the 30x Executive Order and Associated America the Beautiful Initiative.”
The chapter says the order and initiative are being used to advance an agenda closing vast areas of ocean to commercial activity including fishing, while rapidly advancing offshore wind development to the detriment of fisheries and other ocean industries. The initiative sets a goal of conserving 30 percent of US lands and waters by 2030.
What the document actually says
“Withdraw the 30x Executive Order and Associated America the Beautiful Initiative.”
That sentence, in plain words
Cancel this order and the plan that goes with it.
What this is about
One order sets a goal to protect three tenths of land and sea by 2030. The book says it closes fishing grounds. It wants the order cancelled.
The document says “should”Who acts: Commerce, CEQHow: regulationp. 676 in the PDF
What the document says
“Allow a NEPA Exemption for Fisheries Actions.”
The chapter argues that the requirements for analyzing biological, economic and social impacts are already contained in the Magnuson-Stevens Act, that environmental review overlays them with what it calls onerous, redundant and time-consuming process requirements, and that the department and the Council on Environmental Quality should collaborate to reduce the redundancy.
What the document actually says
“Allow a NEPA Exemption for Fisheries Actions.”
That sentence, in plain words
Let fishing rules skip that green check.
What this is about
Big federal decisions need an environment report first. The book says fishing rules already do that check. It says the extra step should be dropped.
The document says “should”Who acts: President, CongressHow: legislationp. 664 in the PDF
What the document says
“Industry and Security (BIS) should be streamlined and moved to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)”
The Bureau of Industry and Security administers export controls on sensitive technology. The chapter lists this among the structural changes the next President should consider, alongside consolidating other trade programs and considering whether many of them should exist federally at all.
What the document actually says
“Industry and Security (BIS) should be streamlined and moved to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)”
That sentence, in plain words
Slim down the export control bureau. Move it to the trade office.
What this is about
One bureau decides what technology may be sold abroad. The book says it should move to the trade office.
The document says “needs to”Who acts: Commerce, BISHow: regulationp. 671 in the PDF
What the document says
“BIS needs to move unilaterally while it works with allies to implement complementary export control policies.”
The chapter says waiting to act until allies are ready to move in lockstep is not an option while national security is at risk. It asks for stronger rules against technology transfer to adversaries, for export controls to be used to prevent theft of personal data, and to encourage companies to shift production out of China.
What the document actually says
“BIS needs to move unilaterally while it works with allies to implement complementary export control policies.”
That sentence, in plain words
Act alone if needed. Keep working with allies at the same time.
What this is about
Some tech cannot be sold to certain lands. Allies often act as one. The book says America should not wait for them.
The document says “should”Who acts: CommerceHow: internal managementp. 666 in the PDF
What the document says
“Upon entering office, all such committees should be reviewed regarding whether they are required by statute and abolished if they are not.”
The chapter states that many of the department's advisory committees are populated by activists from organizations it describes as openly hostile to conservative principles who use the committees to impede conservative policy. It asks that the membership of surviving committees be reconstituted.
What the document actually says
“Upon entering office, all such committees should be reviewed regarding whether they are required by statute and abolished if they are not.”
That sentence, in plain words
Check which of these panels the law requires. Close the rest.
What this is about
The department takes advice from outside panels. The book says some are stacked against it. It says panels not required by law should close.
The document says “should”Who acts: CongressHow: legislationp. 664 in the PDF
What the document says
“The Economic Development Administration’s grant programs, which are among a broad set of duplicative and overlapping federal economic development grant programs, should be consolidated with other programs and/or eliminated;”
This appears in the chapter's list of structural changes for the next President to consider. The chapter argues that many programs at the department overlap with other government programs and that consolidating them could increase accountability and return on taxpayer investment.
What the document actually says
“The Economic Development Administration’s grant programs, which are among a broad set of duplicative and overlapping federal economic development grant programs, should be consolidated with other programs and/or eliminated;”
That sentence, in plain words
These grants overlap with others. Join them together or end them.
What this is about
One office gives grants to help local economies. Other agencies do the same thing. The book says that is a duplication.
The document says “should”Who acts: President, OMBHow: internal managementp. 664 in the PDF
What the document says
“The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) should be made into a performance-based organization”
The chapter lists this among the structural changes to consider, and offers as an alternative that the patent office be consolidated with another agency. A performance-based organization is a federal body given management flexibility in exchange for measurable performance commitments.
What the document actually says
“The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) should be made into a performance-based organization”
That sentence, in plain words
The patent office should be run against set targets.
What this is about
The patent office grants patents and trademarks. The book says it should be run more like a business. It would be judged on results.
The chapter's proposals for reorganizing or eliminating parts of the department, its treatment of the weather and ocean agency, export controls, and advisory committees.
The chapter's detailed export control classification recommendations, its country-by-country priorities, and its treatment of the census and the patent office beyond the structural proposal.
The chapter opens by listing structural options the next President should 'consider' rather than do. Those are recorded with that modality, and a reader should weigh it: an invitation to consider abolishing something is not the same as a plan to abolish it.
