Implementation of U.S. Policy in the Arctic

A tremendous change in the Arctic climate is causing far-reaching impacts on every nation and on the Earth as a whole. The recent changes in the Arctic create numerous areas of interest for the United States, largely driven by national security and economic goals. Given the multiple US interests in the Arctic, in January 2009, President George W. Bush published a national Arctic strategy: National Security Presidential Directive 66 - Homeland Security Presidential Directive 25 (NSPD 66/HSPD 25). Thereafter, numerous departments and agencies developed their supporting Arctic strategies and conducted studies, assessments, and research. However, the United States has failed to put forth the effort and funding necessary to implement its national strategy as laid out by NSPD 66/HSPD 25. An examination of the national policy, along with the various department and agency policies, exposes the intricacies and shallowness of the different assorted Arctic policies. Finally, a detailed assessment of actions taken by US Government departments and agencies in the seven areas laid out in the USG policy, reveals poor overall implementation of policy, which if not corrected, will leave the US militarily, politically, environmentally, and economically vulnerable in the Arctic.