A recent quote by the Trump-nominated Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth perfectly summarizes the outlook of the Trump Administration: The Department of Defense does not do climate change crap; we do training and war fighting.

Hegseth expresses scorn for experts and for the most far-reaching threat to our survival on this planet. He seems more interested in preparing for a street brawl than for the complex challenges to our national security from cyber attacks, from the rise of economic rivals, from weakening links with our longtime allies, and from the effects of climate change that involve worldwide threats to our bases and operations.

Hegseth is manifestly unqualified to confront themore subtle and complex demands of the positionthat he now holds. Trump chose him for his bluntand belligerent attitudes displayed as a FOXchannel regular. Many of his high-level nomineeswere chosen on the basis of their on-air FOXperformances. Like Trump himself in the Presidency,Hegseth is not ready to be Secretary of Defense — he just plays one on on T.V.

Trump has surrounded himself with sycophantMAGA amateurs at the heart of our governmentand especially our national security positions.The contrast with the quality and competence ofcomparable officials in previous Administrationsis shocking. Pray that Trump's team does not haveto deal with a real-time major crisis, for whichthey are dangerously unprepared.

Jim Matlack lives in Camden