Senator Questions Intelligence Report Omission of Climate Change

During a recent Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard faced scrutiny over the omission of climate change from the U.S. intelligence community's 2025 Annual Threat Assessment, a significant departure from the previous 11 reports. Independent Senator Angus King expressed bewilderment, questioning why climate change was excluded when it has historically been recognized as a national security threat. Gabbard defended the report's focus on what she deemed the 'most extreme and critical direct threats' to national security, but King pressed her on the implications of climate change, citing its potential to cause mass migration and political violence. The hearing also featured a disruption from activists demanding an end to U.S. funding for Israel, underscoring the contentious atmosphere. The discussion highlighted ongoing concerns about the intelligence community's priorities and decisions regarding national security threats. Gabbard's responses did little to alleviate King's concerns, leaving the rationale for the omission unclear.