The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is examining how federal agencies coordinate to advance U.S. interests and research in Antarctica. Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) has sent a letter to the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Defense, requesting a briefing to evaluate the current U.S. strategy in the region.
“The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is conducting oversight of the coordination of federal agencies in advancing national research and other priorities in Antarctica, including the U.S. Department of State’s and the U.S. Department of Defense’s respective approaches. Both agencies are integral to the longevity of a U.S. presence in Antarctica. However, with a recent increase in activity from both Russia and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the region, the challenge of protecting America’s presence in the ATS and Antarctica grows more complex. The Committee requests a briefing regarding the State Department’s plans for the ATS and how the State Department and DoD assess the growing presence of foreign adversaries in the region—specifically the PRC and Russia,” wrote Chairman Comer.
China has been increasing its operations in Antarctica, now running five research stations with another expected to open this year, surpassing the United States’ three year-round facilities. Last year, an investigation by the committee found that China was responsible for most research security issues among federally funded projects. The Chinese Communist Party sees Antarctica as a strategic area with ambitions to become influential at both poles. The Department of Defense has indicated that China’s expanding activities may have military purposes, aligning with broader goals to alter international agreements such as potentially revising the Antarctic Treaty by 2048.
“The CCP admitted militaristic intentions in the polar region in a 2020 Science of Military Strategy textbook, which stated that ‘[m]ilitary-civilian mixing is the main way for great powers to achieve a polar military presence.’ Antarctica’s resources could also be exploited, as the continent is estimated to house around 500 billion tons of oil, 300 to 500 billion tons of natural gas, as well as a potential 135 billion tons of oil in the surrounding Southern Ocean. The Committee seeks more information to assess U.S. strategy in Antarctica and ensure that American interests remain safe and secure. The Committee therefore requests a staff-level, inter-agency briefing on this matter as soon as possible, but no later than September 2, 2025,” continued Chairman Comer.
James Comer has represented Kentucky's 1st district since 2016 after succeeding Ed Whitfield https://comer.house.gov/about. He previously served in Kentucky's House of Representatives from 2001 to 2012 https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/C001108. Born in Carthage, Tennessee in 1972, Comer currently resides in Tompkinsville https://www.rollcall.com/2023/03/09/comers-small-town-roots-inform-his-big-role-in-washington/ and graduated from Western Kentucky University with a BS degree https://www.wku.edu/news/articles/index.php?view=article&articleid=10417.
The committee has requested that this inter-agency briefing take place by September 2, 2025.
