The Department of Defense (DOD) has ended all funding for social science research, stating in a press release that the cuts are part of shifting the agency’s focus to “technologies essential for maintaining a strong national defense.” According to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, “[DOD] does not do climate change crap.”
91 ongoing studies on threats like climate change, disinformation, and extremism were terminated, along with the Minerva Research Institute, which provided grants for studies on these and other strategically important subjects to prepare for future challenges.
Critics argue that the cuts will harm national security by cutting DOD off from critical information and the ability to understand and respond to current and emerging threats. Jason Lyall, a political scientist at Dartmouth College, said “How do you know what’s ‘impactful’ if you don’t do the research? How do you anticipate countermeasures and consequences of their use?”