Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa, the Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, delivered an opening statement on May 15, 2024, during a hearing titled "Budgeting for the Storm: Climate Change and the Costs to National Security." The Senator highlighted that this was the committee's 17th hearing on climate change in Congress but the first to address national security.
Grassley stated, "Everyone knows that national security is the number one responsibility of the federal government under our constitution. I agree climate change presents some national security-related challenges, of which the chairman laid out a long list."
However, he emphasized that these challenges are overshadowed by those associated with America's escalating national debt. He quoted Admiral Michael Mullen, then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who said in 2010, “The most significant threat to our national security is our debt.” The Senator noted that public debt has since tripled from $9 trillion.
He warned that unsustainable national debt threatens America's status as an economic superpower and its ability to respond to foreign threats. He pointed out that interest payments on national debt are projected to surpass defense outlays this year.
Grassley also criticized wasteful spending at the Pentagon and called for stricter oversight. He mentioned his long-standing push for a clean audit at the Department of Defense (DOD), which remains unachieved.
While acknowledging climate change as a serious issue with implications for national security and Pentagon’s budget, Grassley expressed concern over prioritizing it over other pressing challenges. He criticized what he called "the Biden administration’s obsession with reducing the military’s carbon footprint," arguing it distracts from deterring and defeating enemies.
He further criticized far-left climate policies for jeopardizing economy and energy security while undermining national security. He cited Europe's experience following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 as a cautionary tale.
In conclusion, Grassley urged the committee to discuss other national security issues beyond climate change. He said, "Climate change didn’t cause a rising and aggressive China. It didn’t convince Putin to invade Ukraine. And it didn’t instigate Hamas’ brutal terrorist attacks on the Israeli people."
He expressed eagerness to hear from witnesses about where they rank climate change among pressing national security challenges.
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