MARAD To Divert Critical Maritime Security Funding to DEI Initiatives

Under the direction of Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the Department of Transportation has embarked on a course of action that jeopardizes two of America’s most critical assets–our subsea cable infrastructure and the nation’s rivers and waterways. These decisions come as part of the Biden-Harris administration’s history of reallocating large amounts of funding to equity and environmental programs.

As first reported by Free Beacon, Senator Ted Cruz revealed that the administration plans to cut $10 million in annual funding for the Maritime Administration’s Cable Security Fleet, crucial for protecting underwater infrastructure and internet connectivity. Instead, funds are being requested to hire 11 staffers for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives in the Department of Transportation. Cruz also claims that funds requested for the U.S. Marine Highway Program are being redirected to “environmental justice” projects.

In countless studies over the years, national security experts have underscored the strategic importance of subsea cables, which are critical to both national security and global communications. Despite the recognized need for dedicated repair ships to safeguard these cables, the Biden-Harris administration has proposed cutting $10 million in funding for the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Cable Security Fleet (CSF). This program ensures that American ships are on standby to respond to any disruption in the underwater cable system, a necessity in the face of potential threats from nations like Russia and China.

“Undersea cables form the backbone of modern communications and the global internet, carrying virtually all transoceanic digital commerce and communications, including sensitive government and military communications,” said Senator Ted Cruz in a statement. “Any disruption to these cables puts national and economic security at risk.”

Also read: Inside the Subsea Cable Firm Secretly Helping America Take On China

Many on the left will applaud the hiring of DEI experts, but at what cost? This DEI expansion will create 11 jobs, but the program CSF employs two ships with a diverse crew of roughly 50 US Merchant Mariners –who will likely lose their jobs to fund this expansion. This comes at a time when the Department of Defense claims there is a critical shortage of mariners.

Rivers And Waterways

But the attack on America’s cable security doesn’t end there. The administration is also targeting the Marine Highway Program, a crucial program that supports the transportation of agricultural exports, oil, and manufactured goods via America’s rivers and waterways. This program, which costs only about $10 million annually, is essential for maintaining the efficiency and sustainability of our supply chains. However, according to Senator Cruz, a significant portion of its funding is being diverted to support environmental justice initiatives, further compromising the program’s effectiveness.

America’s rivers and waterways are indispensable to national security and economic prosperity. They serve as vital conduits for moving large quantities of goods, reducing reliance on less sustainable transportation like trucks and planes. Strategically, these waterways support military logistics, exports of agriculture, oil, and gas, and maintain the country’s global economic influence. Protecting and investing in this infrastructure is essential for preserving America’s competitive edge and ensuring the resilience of its supply chains against potential threats.

Also Read: New York’s Ever Given Crisis Is Bigger Than Egypt’s But Buttigieg Sits Silent

In a passionate video on the news, gCaptain’s founder, Captain John Konrad, claims this should not a partisan issue–it is a matter of national survival and puts not only national security and the economy but also minority communities at great risk.

“Without securing subsea internet cables, national security is in grave danger. Without funding for our great network of marine highways, the reshoring of manufacturing in America is impossible,” said Konrad. “We cannot pull manufacturing market share from China, provide jobs, or improve living conditions to poor communities along our rivers, coasts and great lakes without them.”

Related Video – An Impassioned Call To Fund Cable Security and Marine Highways