Can U.S. survive without military climate spending?! CNN: ‘Officials & experts warn that Pentagon plans to cut climate programs will hurt national security’ – Sec. Hegseth: ‘The Dept of Defense does not do climate change crap’
Sec. of Pentagon Pete Hegseth responds to CNN: “The Dept of Defense does not do climate change crap. We do training and warfighting.”
#
(CNN) As the Pentagon and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency set their sights on climate-related programs at the Defense Department, officials and experts are warning that slashing them could put US troops and military operations at risk, both in the near and long term. …
Dr. Ravi Chaudhary, former assistant secretary of the Air Force for energy, installations and environment, told CNN that climate programs are not just important to giving the US military an edge on adversaries like China, but they also help keep service members and their families safe. …
“Inaction at this point will put our readiness and the lives of our troops and their families at greater risk,” he said. …
Outside of protecting US military installations and personnel, sources also warned that ignoring climate issues could damage the US’ national security interests abroad. ….
“If we say, ‘Hey, we’re not interested in climate change,’ our adversaries or near peer competitors – whatever you want to call them – are more than happy to slide into [partners’ and allies’] DMs and offer funding at our detriment,” the Senate aide said.
Villalón told CNN last week that multiple other climate-related research initiatives had their funding cut off. A Defense Department news release Friday afternoon said the Pentagon was “scrapping its social science research portfolio,” including research focused on “global migration patterns, climate change impacts, and social trends.” The release said the Defense Department expects to save “more than $30 million in the first year through the discontinuation of 91 studies.”
Reality Check:
