Smarter Approach to Nuclear Expenditures Act

The Berlin Wall fell in 1989, the U.S.S.R. no longer exists, and the Cold War is over. The nature of threats to the national security and military interests of the United States has changed. However, the United States continues to maintain an enormous arsenal of nuclear weapons and delivery systems that were devised with the Cold War in mind.

The current nuclear arsenal of the United States includes approximately 5,000 total nuclear warheads, of which approximately 2,000 are deployed with three delivery components: long-range strategic bomber aircraft, land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, and submarine-launched ballistic missiles. The bomber fleet of the United States comprises 93 B–52 and 20 B–2 aircraft. The United States maintains 450 intercontinental ballistic missiles. The United States also maintains 14 Ohio-class submarines, up to 12 of which are deployed at sea. Each of these submarines is armed with up to 96 independently targetable nuclear warheads.

This Cold War-based approach to nuclear security comes at significant cost. Over the next 10 years, the United States will spend hundreds of billions of dollars maintaining its nuclear force. A substantial decrease in the nuclear arsenal of the United States is prudent for both the budget and national security.

The national security interests of the United States can be well served by reducing the total number of deployed nuclear warheads and their delivery systems, as suggested by the Department of Defense’s January 2012 strategic guidance titled “Sustaining U.S. Global Leadership: Priorities for 21st Century Defense”. Furthermore, a number of arms control, nuclear, and national security experts have urged the United States to reduce the number of deployed nuclear warheads to no more than 1,000.

Economic security and national security are linked and both will be well served by smart defense spending. Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stated on June 24, 2010, that “Our national debt is our biggest national security threat” and on August 2, 2011, stated that “I haven’t changed my view that the continually increasing debt is the biggest threat we have to our national security.”.

The Government Accountability Office has found that there is significant waste in the construction of the nuclear facilities of the National Nuclear Security Administration of the Department of Energy.

Prohibition on use of B–2 and B–52 aircraft for nuclear missions— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2014 or any fiscal year thereafter for the Department of Defense may be obligated or expended to arm a B–2 or B–52 aircraft with a nuclear weapon.

Prohibition on new long-Range penetrating bomber aircraft— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for any of fiscal years 2014 through 2023 for the Department of Defense may be obligated or expended for the research, development, test, and evaluation or procurement of a long-range penetrating bomber aircraft.

Prohibition on F–35 nuclear mission— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2014 or any fiscal year thereafter for the Department of Defense or the Department of Energy may be used to make the F–35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

Termination of B61 LEP— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2014 or any fiscal year thereafter for the Department of Defense or the Department of Energy may be obligated or expended for the B61 life extension program.

Termination of W78 LEP— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2014 or any fiscal year thereafter for the Department of Defense or the Department of Energy may be obligated or expended for the W78 life extension program.

Reduction of nuclear-Armed submarines— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, beginning in fiscal year 2014, the forces of the Navy shall include not more than eight operational ballistic-missile submarines available for deployment.

Limitation on SSBN–X submarines— Notwithstanding any other provision of law—

Reduction of ICBMs— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2014 or any fiscal year thereafter for the Department of Defense may be obligated or expended to maintain more than 200 intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Reduction of SLBMs— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2014 or any fiscal year thereafter for the Department of Defense may be obligated or expended to maintain more than 250 submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

Prohibition on new ICBM— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2014 or any fiscal year thereafter for the Department of Defense may be obligated or expended for the research, development, test, and evaluation or procurement of a new intercontinental ballistic missile.

Termination of MOX fuel plant project— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2014 or any fiscal year thereafter for the Department of Defense or the Department of Energy may be obligated or expended for the Mixed Oxide (MOX) Fuel Fabrication Facility project.

Termination of CMRR project— Notwithstanding section 4215 of the Atomic Energy Defense Act (50 U.S.C. 2535) or any other provision of law, none of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2014 or any fiscal year thereafter for the Department of Defense or the Department of Energy may be obligated or expended for the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement nuclear facility.

Termination of UPF— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2014 or any fiscal year thereafter for the Department of Defense or the Department of Energy may be obligated or expended for the Uranium Processing Facility located at the Y–12 National Security Complex.

Termination of MEADS— Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2014 or any fiscal year thereafter for the Department of Defense may be obligated or expended for the medium extended air defense system.

Initial report— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Energy shall jointly submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report outlining the plan of each Secretary to carry out section 3.

Annual report— Not later than March 1, 2014, and each year thereafter, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Energy shall jointly submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report outlining the plan of each Secretary to carry out section 3, including any updates to previously submitted reports.

Annual nuclear weapons accounting— Not later than September 30, 2014, and each year thereafter, the President shall transmit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report containing a comprehensive accounting by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget of the amounts obligated and expended by the Federal Government for each nuclear weapon and related nuclear program during—

Appropriate committees of Congress defined— In this section, the term appropriate committees of Congress means—