Washington, D.C. — The US military climate change policy has taken a dramatic shift under the Trump administration, abandoning long-standing efforts to address climate as a national security concern. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the Pentagon is scrapping all climate-focused initiatives, calling them distractions from its core mission.
“The @DeptofDefense does not do climate change crap. We do training and warfighting,” Hegseth posted on X, solidifying the administration’s stance on the US military climate change policy.
This pivot marks a departure from decades of defense strategy where the US military climate change policy recognized climate threats as force multipliers that worsened instability worldwide.
Historic Reversal of Long-Term Strategy
For over 30 years, the US military climate change policy acknowledged that rising seas, extreme temperatures, and frequent disasters posed growing risks to military readiness. But the current leadership has now reversed course, canceling over 90 research studies, including several centered on global warming and migration linked to climate shifts.
According to Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot, “climate zealotry and other woke chimeras of the Left are not part” of the department’s mission—further cementing the administration’s departure from the previous US military climate change policy.
In a video announcement, spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the department would eliminate “woke climate change programs,” bringing an end to the previous US military climate change policy framework.
Rising Risks, Shrinking Response
Despite abandoning the US military climate change policy, data shows that climate-driven events continue to impact defense operations. The military has responded to more than 170 climate-related emergencies since 2022. From hurricanes and wildfires to droughts and rising tides, these events strain logistics, infrastructure, and troop safety.
At the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, a $37 million sea wall was recently completed due to tidal flooding now affecting the base 30–40 times a year—an issue long addressed under the former US military climate change policy.
Security Experts Sound the Alarm
Critics warn that abandoning the US military climate change policy puts national security at risk. Climate scientists and defense strategists emphasize that climate factors are now intertwined with military planning—ranging from base construction to troop training.
“Any move to restrict adaptation efforts weakens our defenses,” said Robert Young, a professor of geology and climate policy analyst. He emphasized the value of a strong US military climate change policy in protecting infrastructure and operational readiness.
Mark Nevitt, a former Navy JAG officer, recalled how flooding frequently kept him from entering or leaving Norfolk Naval Station. He called climate change a “super wicked” problem that the US military climate change policy had been trying to address.
Global Repercussions of Policy Shift
Experts from the Center for Climate and Security said the rollback of the US military climate change policy could have geopolitical consequences. Many of America’s allies, particularly in the Pacific, see climate change as their top security threat. Weakening the US military policy may undermine trust and coordination with partners facing rising sea levels and extreme weather.
“If the U.S. doesn’t step up, China and others will gladly fill the leadership vacuum,” said Tom Ellison, deputy director at the Center.
Budget Cuts vs. Strategic Costs
While the canceled studies save $30 million—a mere 0.03% of the Pentagon’s $850 billion budget—the dismantling of the US military climate policy could cost more in the long run. Repairing damage from climate-related disasters at military sites and securing unstable regions may now proceed without strategic guidance.
Sherri Goodman, former Pentagon official and climate security pioneer, called the decision shortsighted.
“Resilience is not woke. It’s smart. A strong US military climate policy ensures that our armed forces can function in the world we actually live in,” she said.
With the administration now firmly opposing climate-focused defense initiatives, the US military climate change policy stands at a historic crossroads. Whether future administrations will rebuild these efforts remains uncertain. For now, the Pentagon has closed a chapter on what many saw as a proactive and science-based defense approach.
US military climate change policy is no longer a guiding principle of defense strategy. And that shift may echo far beyond the barracks. To find more insights visit HOURS OF NEWS.
