NW Kentucky News

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer has announced an investigation into the Department of Defense's utilization of the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program. The inquiry focuses on the program's facilitation of land easement sales near military bases to nonprofits connected to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), ostensibly for conservation purposes. This investigation is a part of the Committee's broader examination of the Biden Administration's policies, regulations, and alleged clandestine interests.

Chairman Comer communicated to DOD Secretary Pete Hegseth through a letter, highlighting concerns over security risks associated with REPI partnerships. Comer wrote, "the Committee is examining the Biden-era Department of Defense’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program (REPI). Specifically, the Committee is investigating the Biden Administration’s use of REPI to facilitate the sale of land easements adjacent to military bases to nonprofits with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) under the pretense of conservation."

Comer pointed to The Nature Conservancy as a significant REPI partner involved in 34 projects. The organization reportedly has connections to the CCP. It is noted that employees of its China Program have held roles in various CCP-linked government bodies and have contributed to the state-run publication, People's Daily.

REPI is set up as "a tool for combating encroachment that can limit or restrict military training, testing, and operations." The program's partnerships involve military services, conservation groups, and local governments to manage land near military bases. However, GAO reports have noted the Department of Defense's struggles in properly assessing the risks of foreign encroachment on federal lands. Through REPI, the Department works with private entities to acquire easements, which are legal agreements limiting land use around military installations, often aligning with conservation efforts including habitat preservation.

In his letter, Chairman Comer also stated, "The Committee also found that two additional organizations listed as partners on the Department’s REPI website­­—Rio Tinto and Rayonier—appear to have offices in the PRC or have worked with organizations affiliated with the CCP." He expressed concern over these partnerships, especially due to their proximity to military facilities, which could pose risks to U.S. military security.

The Committee’s actions aim to scrutinize how these partnerships and projects near military bases might affect U.S. national security.

Read the letter to Secretary Hegseth here.