1776Reporting
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has never hidden his opposition to left-wing ideologies, including DEI policies and gender narratives. From the moment he stepped into office, he made it clear: the military would be stripped of progressive social engineering. On Sunday, Hegseth reinforced that stance yet again.
In response to a social media post by CNN’s Haley Britzky, Hegseth made his position on climate change unmistakable. The Secretary of Defense dismissed the issue entirely, calling it “crap” and confirming that environmental policies have no place in his agenda.
“In response to a list of questions from CNN about military readiness as it relates to climate programs, Pentagon Spox John Ullyot said ‘Climate zealotry and other woke chimeras of the Left are not part’ of DOD’s mission,” Britzky posted.
Hegseth doubled down. “John is, of course, correct,” he wrote in response. “The @DeptofDefense does not do climate change crap. We do training and warfighting.”
His blunt remark followed Britzky’s report on the Trump administration’s broader effort to remove climate-related policies from the Pentagon’s objectives. Under Hegseth’s leadership, the Department of Defense will no longer prioritize environmental initiatives.
“The DOD and DOGE have said they plan to cut climate programs in the Pentagon — but officials & experts are warning that climate efforts at DOD are directly linked to military readiness, and say cuts could put troops and military operations at risk,” Britzky previously wrote.
Her report referenced comments by Robert Salesses, acting deputy defense secretary, who made it clear where the administration stands. “The DOD will cut ‘unnecessary spending that set our military back under the previous administration, including through so-called ‘climate change’ and other woke programs,’” Salesses said.
Democrats and left-wing activists have condemned these cuts, arguing that climate policy is directly tied to national security. They claim rising global temperatures, natural disasters, and resource conflicts could compromise military readiness. The Trump administration, however, sees climate initiatives as wasteful distractions that drain taxpayer money and divert focus from the military’s real mission.
As the Pentagon pivots away from environmental programs, the political battle over climate change in the military rages on. One side insists it’s a national security necessity; the other views it as an ideological burden the military should not bear.
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