Andy Biggs: “our brave servicemen and servicewomen stand ready to defend this Nation against any threat; but they cannot prepare for…”

“our brave servicemen and servicewomen stand ready to defend this Nation against any threat; but they cannot prepare for tomorrow's battles if today's training grounds are shackled by outdated and overreaching regulations. The Endangered Species Act, once intended as a shield for vulnerable wildlife, has morphed into a weapon wielded by radical activists and unelected bureaucrats that cripple our military's readiness and drain billions from our defense budget. Madam Chair, consider this. The War Department manages nearly 27 million acres of land, waters, and airspace, which are vital for testing cutting-edge technologies, honing combat skills, and ensuring our Forces remain the world's finest. Yet as many as 550 threatened or endangered species call these areas home, which triggers endless ESA restrictions that hamstring essential training and operations. At Fort Huachuca in Arizona, for example, the Sonoran tiger salamanders' designated critical wetland habitat requires strict protection measures. That means environmental reviews and limits on land use, construction, and water management. All those delay vital infrastructure projects and constrain training exercises during breeding seasons. On top of that, Fort Huachuca must carry out ongoing monitoring, predator control, and habitat management, all under ESA guidelines, which impose onerous constraints on our ability to train and be ready for our warriors.”