CIA Closes Climate Change Research Office

A division of the Central Intelligence Agency formed to monitor global warming and the changes it means for national security has been disbanded.

The Center on Climate Change and National Security, which was created three years ago, was criticized by Republicans who charged it diverted the agency’s attention from terrorism and other pressing matters, reports Business Insider.

"The CIA for several years has studied the national security implications of climate change," CIA spokesman Todd Ebitz told Greenwire.com, which broke the story.

“This work is now performed by a dedicated team in an office that looks at a variety of economic and energy security issues affecting the United States."
The center was strongly supported by former CIA director Leon Panetta, who is now Secretary of Defense.

The CIA did not conduct its own scientific studies on climate change, instead relying on other government agencies and academic researchers.

Senator John Barrasso, a Wyoming Republican, called the shutdown “the right decision . . . It’s critically important for the CIA to focus its resources on preventing terrorism and keeping Americans safe.”