This week, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that it has ceased funding ongoing research on climate change, discontinuing 91 studies related to global migration patterns, climate change impacts, and social trends. The department stated in a news release that this decision will result in saving more than $30 million in the first year. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed on X that the department’s focus is on training and warfighting rather than climate change issues.
The department justified the halt in climate and other research by emphasizing its commitment to fiscal responsibility and ensuring that every dollar invested in defense provides maximum benefit to the American people. Despite this recent development, the military has a longstanding awareness of the threats posed by climate change. President George H.W. Bush recognized climate change as a security issue in his National Security Strategy as far back as 1991.
Reports have indicated that military installations along the East and Gulf Coast are vulnerable to significant land loss due to rising sea levels driven by human-induced climate change. The Pentagon has acknowledged that 1,774 of its sites occupying 95,471 miles of the world’s coastline are at risk of sea level rise. Consequently, the Department of Defense conducted a comprehensive assessment on climate change and sea level rise across its facilities in 2018.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has underscored the importance of addressing climate change and sea level rise in regions where the military operates to ensure stability and readiness for future missions. Notably, efforts to fortify radar sites along Alaska’s shoreline have been necessitated by the impact of rising sea levels. John Conger, who previously served as the Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment, emphasized the imperative of addressing climate change within military planning and operations.
This article, originally published on USA TODAY, highlights the recent decision by the Department of Defense to curtail funding for climate change research, citing Secretary Hegseth’s emphasis on prioritizing military functions over environmental concerns.
