US$5.1 billion in cuts, including on climate change, announced by Pentagon
Department of Defence boss Pete Hegseth said climate change, Covid-19 response and diversity programmes will be among the contracts to end
The US Department of Defence (DOD) will cut US$5.1 billion in “wasteful” spending, including on climate and diversity initiatives, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said on Thursday.
President Donald Trump has vowed to slash government spending, tasking Elon Musk – the world’s richest man – with leading the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (Doge).
Hegseth has said Doge would have “broad access” to root out programmes from the previous administration.
Last month, he ordered the termination of US$580 million in spending, which included grants related to climate change and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) areas, among others.
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In a video published on Thursday, Hegseth said the DOD was ending “eleven contracts for DEI, climate, Covid-19 response, and related non-essential activities”.