A House committee this week will explore how the U.S. is falling behind in the Arctic, with a focus on the lagging Coast Guard icebreaker program.
The hearing of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation comes following multiple government reports finding problems in the Coast Guard’s Arctic efforts.
An August report from the Government Accountability Office said the service may not be fully prepared for increasing threats from climate change, increased shipping activity and the heightened risk of geopolitical conflict.
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That same month, a report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said construction of a first-of-its-kind icebreaker had been “plagued by delays and cost overruns.”
