Trump’s $1tn Pentagon Boost Sparks Massive Carbon Surge

Trump’s $1 trillion Pentagon budget hike is projected to spike U.S. military emissions by another 26 Mt CO₂e comparable to powering 68 gas-fired plants, raising urgent climate alarms.

Donald Trump’s proposed $1 trillion 2026 Pentagon budget, labeled the “One Big Beautiful Act,” could push U.S. military greenhouse gas output past 178 Mt CO₂ equivalents, an increase of about 26 Mt, according to a Climate and Community Institute study. That spike equals the annual emissions from 68 gas-fired power plants or a country the size of Croatia. With the military already among the planet’s largest institutional polluters, this move amplifies climate risks just as Americans face intensifying heatwaves, worsening wildfires, and rising seas. By helping weapons systems over climate resilience, the Trump Pentagon budget reshapes national security and inflates Pentagon carbon emissions at a time when urgent action is needed. The result: a military emissions surge that threatens to lock in long-term planetary damage.

What sets this plan apart and alarms experts is its sharp tradeoff: funding tanks, jets, and private defense contractors while slashing science, renewable energy, and disaster preparedness. Trump’s re‑withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and dismantling of Pentagon-backed climate research signal a return to fossil-first policymaking. Analysts warn these choices aren’t abstract, they embed decades of carbon-intensive procurement, locking in emissions through next-gen equipment. Compared to earlier national security models that factored climate as a “threat multiplier,” this pivot deprioritizes adaptation and transparency in favor of geopolitical muscle.

For decision-makers, the message couldn’t be clearer: leave military carbon unchecked, and both climate action and fiscal health take the hit. With a $47 billion social cost driven by global climate damages this budget isn’t just pricey, it’s reckless. And leaders across clean energy, finance, and infrastructure? They can’t afford to sit this one out. They must demand climate accountability from the armed forces, pushing for everything from fuel-use reporting to real-world integration of renewables.. Externally, refer to authoritative Climate and Community and Guardian reporting for comprehensive analysis, and compare with Pentagon emissions data tracked by Brown University.