An Inconvenient Reality: Climate-Preparedness Cuts Are Lethality Cuts

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The 2019 Missouri River flood caused extensive damage to Offutt Air Force Base, costing $1.2 billion in repairs. Budget cuts to U.S. climate programs were criticized as undermining military readiness and environmental resilience crucial for base and port operations in the Pacific.

In 2019, the Missouri River flooded at historically high levels and damaged 137 facilities, destroyed 1.2 million square feet of workspace, and flooded 3,000 feet of runway at Offutt Air Force Base. Repairing the installation cost $1.2 billion. The Trump administration and Department of Defense justified $1.2 billion in budget reductions to the U.S. Geological Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Defense Department climate programs as cuts to “woke” climate or environmental initiatives, but a singular event caused sufficient damage to erase those savings.The lethality of American presence in the Pacific depends upon the resilience of bases, ports, and The post An Inconvenient Reality: Climate-Preparedness Cuts Are Lethality Cuts appeared first on War on the Rocks.