Three Key Takeaways:
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made waves by slashing $105 billion in Pentagon spending, eliminating climate change programs to focus on military readiness and taxpayer savings.
- Hegseth’s decision to cut the Minerva Research Initiative, which funded climate-related security research, is expected to save over $30 million and redirect resources towards combat training instead of climate studies.
- Critics argue the move could compromise military readiness, but Hegseth’s focus is on strengthening the military’s core mission of deterring and winning wars, not spending on non-essential programs.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth just dropped a bombshell that’s sending shockwaves through the corridors of power.
It’s a move that’s got Washington, D.C.’s establishment types clutching their pearls.
And Hegseth left Democrats speechless after slashing $105 billion in Pentagon spending with this one move.
No more climate change programs at the Pentagon – period
“The @DeptofDefense does not do climate change crap.” That’s what Hegseth declared yesterday, and boy, did it ruffle some feathers. It’s about time somebody had the guts to say what real Americans have been thinking for years.
John is, of course, correct.
The @DeptofDefense does not do climate change crap.
We do training and warfighting. https://t.co/eK5Xyf7fN4
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) March 9, 2025
Let me tell you something interesting – the Department of Defense isn’t doing this alone. They’re working hand-in-hand with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and the numbers are impressive.
How impressive? Try $105 billion in taxpayer savings. That’s billion with a B.
“How about this one: $1.6 million to the University of Florida to study social and institutional detriments of vulnerability in resilience to climate hazards in African Sahel,” Pentagon Spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a video posted on X. “You see folks – this stuff is not a core function of our military. This is not what we do, this is a distraction from our core mission.”
Now, you’ve got your usual suspects throwing fits about this. Some unnamed Pentagon officials (funny how they never want their names attached to their complaints) went running to CNN, crying about “readiness issues.” Give me a break.
And Dr. Ravi Chaudhary, who used to be assistant secretary of the Air Force for energy, installations and environment, claims this puts our troops at risk. But where’s the evidence? Show me one soldier who’s better off studying climate charts than training for combat.
Here’s something concrete – the Minerva Research Initiative is getting the ax. Good riddance.
This program was burning through taxpayer dollars funding academic research on climate-related security issues. First-year savings? More than $30 million just by cutting 91 studies that weren’t doing a thing to keep America safe.
Sure, some military analysts are wringing their hands about China. They’re claiming Beijing might use this to cozy up to Pacific island nations.
But let’s get real – what’s going to deter Chinese aggression more effectively? Climate change studies or a battle-ready military?
Secretary Hegseth gets it. He understands what matters – protecting American interests through real military strength and readiness. Not some feel-good climate initiatives that do nothing but waste money and distract from the mission.
