WASHINGTON — There won’t be any medals given out for fighting the war on climate and today, one of those programs funded by the Department of Defense has been cut
A preliminary review by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has identified $80 million in what it calls wasteful spending within the Department of Defense, according to an announcement by Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell.
In a social media video posted Monday, Parnell detailed several expenditures flagged by DOGE, including $1.9 million for holistic diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training, $6 million to the University of Montana for a program aimed at bridging political divides, and $1.6 million to the University of Florida for a study on climate resilience in Africa.
“At the DOD, we’ve been working hand in hand with the DOGE team,” Parnell said. “And as the secretary said, we welcome that process because that process will make us more lethal.”
The review follows Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s directive to align Pentagon spending with his three top priorities: restoring the warrior ethos, rebuilding military capabilities, and strengthening deterrence. Parnell indicated the DOGE team will continue identifying expenditures that do not contribute directly to these goals.
“Today’s actions are just the start; more to come this week,” he said. “Stay tuned in the weeks ahead as we trim the fat, preserve the muscle, make the DOD more mission-capable and more lethal.”