Hawaii’s TMT project on chopping block amid federal cuts

HONOLULU (KHON2) — There has been a major development in the long-running battle over the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea.

A federal funding cut could mean major changes for the project’s future.

The TMT has been the center of fierce opposition and protest for years. Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda used to be against the project and even took part in the 2019 protests, but a new authority has been in charge since 2022 and his stance has changed.

“Nine of 11 of us are Hawaiian. So that’s like, the perfect mix to make this decision of what’s best for the mountain. So I was thrilled,” Alameda said.

Alameda said Native Hawaiian voices were finally leading the decision making when the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority was created.

“Not just for Hawaii, but I’m also fighting for Hawaiians because the 30 meter telescope allows us leverage to make the mountain better,” he said. “What’s the leverage to decommission five or six other telescopes? So, I don’t think people realize that, you know, you don’t want to throw the baby out with the bathwater.”

The National Science Foundation said it will not fund TMT through its final design phase due to budget cuts, despite the local momentum. The National Science Foundation will instead back the completion of the Giant Magellan Telescope that is already under construction in Chile.

“The Thirty Meter Telescope is one of the most compelling American opportunities in this generation. It is designed to explore the earliest galaxies, probe the nature of dark matter and dark energy, and search for life on exoplanets. Mauna Kea is the premier northern hemisphere site for astronomy, and TMT will enable the United States to demonstrate global leadership, while setting new standards for partnerships with the community where it wishes to be built and operated,” TMT project manager Fengchuan Liu said in a statement.  

“We are disappointed that the NSF’s current budget request does not include TMT, but we remain firmly committed to finding a path forward for TMT,” Liu’s statement continued. “We can imagine a future in which NSF participation in the TMT would open opportunities for significant discovery to the entire US science community, and welcome further conversations to make this a reality.” 

“As ever, we appreciate our many supporters who share a common vision for future generations, and for excellence, as we strive to bring TMT to all the communities engaged with us,” Liu concluded.

The Mauna Kea Authority has the final say on land use decisions — including whether TMT can move forward — but the future of the telescope remains uncertain whiteout federal funding.