Secretary Hegseth Declares DOD Doesn't Do 'Climate Change Crap'

U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Pete Hegseth made waves on Sunday, boldly stating that his department "does not do climate change crap." According to Hegseth, the DOD's focus is firmly on warfighting and training, not environmental initiatives.

The comment followed a post by CNN’s Haley Britzky, who highlighted recent DOD and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) plans to cut Pentagon programs related to climate change. Britzky warned that such cuts could compromise military readiness, putting troops and operations at risk. Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot chimed in, criticizing "climate zealotry" and other so-called distractions as outside the DOD's core mission.

Hegseth didn’t hold back in his response, echoing Ullyot’s sentiment. "The @DeptofDefense does not do climate change crap. We do training and warfighting," he asserted.

DOGE, led by billionaire Elon Musk, has partnered with the DOD to identify and reduce wasteful spending. Recent findings revealed millions of dollars allocated to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, including $1.9 million for DEI transformation in the Air Force and $6 million for a University of Montana project aimed at "bridging divides." Another flagged expense included $1.6 million awarded to the University of Florida for studying vulnerability to climate hazards in Africa.

"This stuff is just not a core function of our military," said DOD spokesman Sean Parnell in a video shared on social media. "It’s a distraction from our core mission." Parnell also stated that the initial findings could potentially save $80 million in wasteful spending.

Hegseth expressed support for DOGE’s efforts, noting that many of the agency's workers are veterans. He emphasized the importance of eliminating what he described as "the last vestiges of Biden priorities"—including DEI and climate change programs—calling these initiatives "not core to our mission."

With DOGE’s help, Hegseth aims to streamline the DOD’s focus and cut unnecessary expenditures, ensuring that the department remains aligned with what he sees as its primary objectives.