The Pentagon announced last week that it is canceling over 90 studies, including climate change studies that U.S. Defense Department Secretary Pete Hegseth described as “crap” in a Sunday statement on social media.
On Sunday, Hegseth shared a tweet from CNN reporter Haley Britzky, who quoted Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot as saying, “Climate zealotry and other woke chimeras of the Left are not part” of the mission of the Department of Defense.
In his post, Hegseth said Ullyot’s statement was correct, adding, “The [Department of Defense] does not do climate change crap. We do training and warfighting.”
According to Reuters, a Pentagon account later shared a screenshot of an article on Hgeseth’s “climate change crap” statement alongside the caption, “Fact check true.”
In a Friday press release, the Department of Defense confirmed that it would be eliminating 91 studies and potentially saving over $30 million in just one year in an effort to ensure that the U.S. military “remains the most powerful and advanced fighting force in the world.”
“The Office of the Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) is scrapping its social science research portfolio as part of a broader effort to ensure fiscal responsibility and prioritize mission-critical activities,” the Pentagon stated. “This initiative involves focusing resources on technologies essential for maintaining a strong national defense, aligning with the Administration’s commitment to efficient government and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.”
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The Pentagon explained that while the Department of Defense “recognizes the value of academic research,” the department believes research funding should address “pressing needs to develop and field advanced military capabilities” in light of President Donald Trump’s executive orders and the policies implemented by Hegseth over the past couple of months.
The Pentagon added, “Several studies are affected by this shift, including those focused on global migration patterns, climate change impacts, and social trends.”
Some of the studies canceled by the Pentagon include “Social and Institutional Determinants of Vulnerability and Resilience to Climate Hazards in the African Sahel,” “Future Fish Wars: Chasing Ocean Ecosystem Wealth,” “Democracy Quest,” “The Climate-Food-Urbanization Nexus and the Precursors of Instability in Africa,” and “Food Fights: War Narratives and Identity Reproduction in Evolving Conflicts.”
Addressing the U.S. military’s decision to eliminate climate change studies and other social science studies, the Pentagon said, “Secretary of Defense Hegseth has emphasized the importance of equipping the American military with the tools and capabilities necessary to deter adversaries and maintain a strong defense. This initiative directly supports that commitment by prioritizing investments in areas like hypersonic weapons development, AI-powered systems for enhanced battlefield awareness, and strengthening the domestic military industrial base.”
