DOD Secretary Hegseth Dismisses Climate Change Initiatives, Focuses on Core Mission

Secretary Hegseth stated that the DOD does not engage in climate change initiatives, focusing instead on warfighting and training. This reaction followed planned budget cuts to climate-related programs. Experts warn these cuts may compromise military readiness. The collaboration between the DOD and DOGE aims to identify wasteful spending, particularly in diversity and inclusion programs, projecting potential savings of $80 million.

U.S. Department of Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, declared that the military’s primary focus lies in warfighting and training rather than climate change initiatives, stating emphatically, “the DOD does not do climate change crap.” This statement came in response to CNN’s Haley Britzky, who highlighted planned cuts to climate programs within the Pentagon by the DOD and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Experts have cautioned that these cuts may jeopardize military readiness and safety.

Britzky further reported that the DOD’s spokesperson, John Ullyot, expressed that “climate zealotry and other woke chimeras of the Left are not part of DOD’s mission.” Subsequently, Hegseth agreed, reinforcing Ullyot’s stance that the focus should be on training and operational readiness, rather than climate-related projects.

Elon Musk’s DOGE is collaborating with the DOD to eliminate unnecessary spending, with DOD spokesman Sean Parnell detailing initial findings that could potentially save $80 million. These findings involve significant funding for various diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, including a notable $1.9 million earmarked for DEI transformation training in the Air Force.

Parnell reiterated the view that the current initiatives being funded do not align with the military’s core functions, asserting, “This stuff is a distraction from our core mission.” He anticipated that the review conducted by DOGE would successfully identify redundancies and expenditures misaligned with the military’s essential objectives, further stating, “We’re going to get rid of it all.” Hegseth expressed confidence in the capabilities of DOGE, noting that many of its members are veterans, thereby sharing the common goal of enhancing efficiency within the DOD.

In conclusion, Secretary Pete Hegseth categorically dismisses climate change initiatives within the DOD, asserting that the department’s primary responsibilities are warfighting and training. The collaboration with DOGE aims to reduce wasteful spending, particularly on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that are viewed as distractions. Concerns have been raised about potential impacts on military readiness due to these budget cuts, indicating a significant debate surrounding resource allocation within the Defense Department.

Original Source: www.foxnews.com