Progressives are attempting to pit Trump Administration officials against each other, as Office of Management and Budget (OMB) director Mick Mulvaney described funds spent on climate change as a “waste of your money.”
The Trump administration unveiled its budget proposal, which significantly reduces spending on climate change, earlier this week. Mulvaney declared that the Trump Administration is not “spending money on that anymore. We consider that to be a waste of your money.”
Climate activist groups seek to divide the Trump administration by using Secretary of Defense James Mattis’ past statements against the Trump administration’s budget proposal. Secretary Mattis said:
Climate change can be a driver of instability and the Department of Defense must pay attention to potential adverse impacts generated by this phenomenon…. As I noted above, climate change is a challenge that requires a broader, whole-of government response. If confirmed, I will ensure that the Department of Defense plays its appropriate role within such a response by addressing national security aspects…. I agree that the effects of a changing climate — such as increased maritime access to the Arctic, rising sea levels, desertification, among others — impact our security situation. I will ensure that the department continues to be prepared to conduct operations today and in the future, and that we are prepared to address the effects of a changing climate on our threat assessments, resources, and readiness.
Sierra Club legislative director Melinda Pierce said that “Secretary of Defense James Mattis has made it clear that to protect our national security, we have to tackle the climate crisis. It’s disgraceful and dangerous that Trump and Mulvaney refuse to give our government the resources to tackle the critical mission at hand.”
Trump’s budget proposal removes funding for the EPA’s Clean Power Plan, and scraps funding for climate change research programs. Under Trump’s proposal, the EPA would be cut by $2.6 billion, and as many as 3,200 EPA jobs could be cut.
Mulvaney told reporters yesterday to expect changes in energy policy in the budget. He said, “You can expect reductions in the EPA that don’t line up with the president’s view on things like global warming and alternative energies. You will see a reduction in subsidies, a reduction in participation in those types of programs.”
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.