The Biden-Harris administration is quietly floating a funding cut for a national security initiative that protects America's underwater infrastructure. At the same time, he is asking Congress for millions of dollars for equity and “environmental justice” initiatives, the Washington Free Beacon has learned
The administration recently informed Congress that it wants to eliminate $10 million in annual funding for the Maritime Administration's Cable Security Fleet (CSF) (MARAD), which protects the underwater infrastructure that powers America's connected on the internet Hostile nations such as Russia and China have repeatedly attempted to sabotage these networks, plunging the US government and military into the dark.
A significant portion of that funding is being diverted to equity programs as part of the Biden-Harris administration's push to promote progressive cultural priorities, according to Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas). That includes more than $1 million to hire 11 full-time employees dedicated to “diversity and equity priorities” at the Department of Transportation. An additional $6 million is allocated to programs that will “address environmental issues and 'mitigate.'[e] the impact of climate change.'” Another $10 million is earmarked for the US Seaways Program to support “environmental justice,” Cruz revealed.
“The Biden administration's decision to defund submarine cable security while increasing spending on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) undermines America's strategic defense posture against our adversaries, including Russia and China, in in favor of radically liberal and unpopular social policies, “Cruz he wrote in a letter of inquiry sent to the Department of Transport on Thursday and obtained by free lighthouse.
Congress approved $10 million in annual funding for MARAD's CSF program, which ensures U.S. ships are on standby to deal with any disruption to the undersea cable system. The fleet acts as the last line of defense “in times of national emergency” if hostile actors manage to disrupt the country's Internet connection.
While the money remains available, the Biden-Harris administration's fiscal year 2025 budget proposal “does not call for funding for the program,” according to Cruz.
“But what the MARAD budget includes is millions in additional funding for headquarters operations to implement the administration's executive orders on race and equity, environmental justice, climate and sustainability, and pandemic response,” he wrote Cross.
“The administration's request to zero out the CSF program is puzzling given the increase in attacks on undersea cables,” the senator wrote.
In May, US officials sent an alert to telecommunications companies, warning them “that submarine cables could be vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese repair ships”. Beijing's state-controlled vessels were obfuscating their international whereabouts, indicating they may be involved in espionage operations.
“Repeated gaps in transponder data from Chinese cable repair vessels and the location of the vessels, in the vicinity of cables related to national security, raise red flags,” Cruz wrote. “Despite all of this, the administration is looking to eliminate the program dedicated to allowing the repair of undersea cables in times of emergency, the CSF Program, to spend more money on woke nonsense.”
In February of this year, the administration designated submarine cables as a key technology “of special importance to the national security of the United States.” Soon after, three cables were cut under the Red Sea, causing a communications blackout in Asia and Europe.
Russia has long been known to have the “ability to cut secret cables, tap into them and jam sensors that detect intrusions,” according to Cruz, who cited a 2018 Associated Press. report on the subject
European officials warned last year that “Russia may sabotage submarine cables in retaliation for Western support for Ukraine,” a concern shared by the US intelligence community.
“U.S. officials have expressed concern that foreign cable repair ships, which we will become even more dependent on without the CSF program, pose a security threat because submarine cables are vulnerable to tampering,” he noted. Cross.
If the United States depends on an outside nation for cable repair, that country “could tap into underwater data streams, conduct reconnaissance of U.S. military communications links, or steal valuable intellectual property used in military equipment.” cable,” Cruz wrote, adding that Russian ships have already done so. “actively mapped critical underwater infrastructure.”
“The safety of submarine cables depends on having access to these 'trusted' vessels for cable maintenance and repair, rather than relying on foreign-flagged repair vessels, sometimes owned by foreign adversaries, that can be withdrawn to their countries of origin or otherwise pose risks and reliability problems during the conflict,” according to the senator.
Cruz is asking the Department of Transportation to release all information about the CSF program dating back to 2021, as well as “all guidance documents referring to or related to the DEI programs.”
The senator also wants updated “information on the threat and known adversary attacks on submarine cables,” including “an explanation of how the Department and MARAD intend to ensure the continuity of submarine communications networks during conflict without an operational CSF program “.
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