Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth Axes Climate Security Studies, Calling Climate Change 'Crap'

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has abruptly terminated nearly 100 Pentagon research studies examining the nexus of global warming and national security, dismissing the underlying issue as 'crap.' This decisive move directly contradicts the U.S. military's own long-standing, institutional preparations for climate-driven threats. The cancellation represents a sharp, top-down reversal of policy, halting work on critical assessments that inform strategic planning for everything from extreme weather impacts on bases to geopolitical instability fueled by resource scarcity.

The action centers on Secretary Hegseth, a political appointee, who has publicly ridiculed the scientific consensus. His personal skepticism now dictates official Pentagon research priorities, sidelining years of analysis by military planners and civilian experts within the defense establishment. These studies are not abstract academic exercises; they directly assess vulnerabilities in supply chains, infrastructure, and operational readiness, providing data for commanders worldwide.

The immediate effect is a significant gap in forward-looking threat analysis for the Department of Defense. While the armed services may continue their own practical adaptations—such as fortifying coastal installations against sea-level rise—the strategic, department-wide research pipeline has been severed. This creates a disconnect between high-level policy and on-the-ground military necessity, potentially leaving the force less prepared for climate-exacerbated crises that the Pentagon itself has previously identified as major security risks.