Spending on the nuclear weapons complex has exploded in recent years, and budgets are expected to continue on a steep upward path as the US National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) works to juggle refurbishments and modifications of aging weapons systems while replacing crumbling infrastructure and building new production plants.
President Joe Biden’s budget proposal for the fiscal year that begins October 1 seeks $19.8 billion for the NNSA’s nuclear weapons activities—a 4% increase from the current level. That follows an 11.6% rise from FYs 2023–24. The NNSA budget is one element of the $69 billion included in Biden’s budget request for nuclear forces and their delivery systems. In all, NNSA funding has more than doubled in real terms since the Soviet Union's collapse and the ending of the nuclear rivalry between the superpowers (see the figure on page 23).
Today, of course, defense planners and lawmakers are addressing a renewed...
