Navy sends climate action plan to Davy Jones’ locker

By Michael Doyle | 04/23/2025 01:46 PM EDT

The new Navy secretary has announced he is “rescinding” the Biden administration’s “Navy Climate Action 2030” program.

John Phelan appears before a Senate Committee on Armed Services hearing for his pending confirmation.

Navy Secretary John Phelan, shown during his Feb. 27 Senate confirmation hearing. Rod Lamkey Jr./AP

Navy Secretary John Phelan has sunk an ambitious climate action program designed to meet what his predecessor called an “existential threat” to the sea service.

A former businessman with no prior military experience, Phelan announced Tuesday he was “rescinding” the Biden administration initiative known as the “Navy Climate Action 2030” program.

“We need to focus on having a lethal and ready naval force, unimpeded by ideologically motivated regulations. Our goal is peace through strength,” Phelan stated in a short post on the X social media site.

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Under Biden’s Navy secretary, Carlos Del Toro, a Naval Academy graduate and retired commander, the service produced a 32-page program report that spelled out ongoing climate-related actions as well as future plans.

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