---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 6159"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "6159"
heading: "Defense nuclear nonproliferation management plan"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/6159"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part VI — Elements of Department of Defense and Other Matters"
  - "Subpart B — Atomic Energy Defense"
  - "Chapter 603 — Proliferation Matters"
---

# §6159. Defense nuclear nonproliferation management plan

- (a) **Plan Required.—** The [Administrator](/usc/10/2700.md?p=3) shall develop and annually update a five-year management plan for activities associated with the defense nuclear nonproliferation [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) of the Administration to prevent and counter the proliferation of materials, technology, equipment, and expertise related to nuclear and radiological weapons in order to minimize and address the risk of nuclear terrorism and the proliferation of such weapons.
- (b) **Submission to Congress.—**
  - (1) Not later than March 15 of each even-numbered year, the [Administrator](/usc/10/2700.md?p=3) shall submit to the [congressional defense committees](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-16) a summary of the plan developed under [subsection (a)](#a).
  - (2) Not later than March 15 of each odd-numbered year, the [Administrator](/usc/10/2700.md?p=3) shall submit to the [congressional defense committees](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-16) a detailed report on the plan developed under [subsection (a)](#a).
  - (3) Each summary submitted under [paragraph (1)](#b-1) and each report submitted under [paragraph (2)](#b-2) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex if necessary.
- (c) **Elements.—** The plan required by [subsection (a)](#a) shall include, with respect to each defense nuclear nonproliferation [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) of the Administration, the following:
  - (1) A description of the policy context in which the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) operates, including—
    - (A) a list of relevant laws, policy directives issued by the President, and international agreements; and
    - (B) nuclear nonproliferation activities carried out by other Federal [agencies](/usc/10/3451.md?p=3).
  - (2) A description of the objectives and priorities of the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) during the year preceding the submission of the summary required by [paragraph (1)](#b-1) of subsection (b) or the report required by [paragraph (2)](#c-2) of that subsection, as the case may be.
  - (3) A description of the activities carried out under the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) during that year.
  - (4) A description of the accomplishments and challenges of the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) during that year, based on an assessment of metrics and objectives previously established to determine the effectiveness of the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1).
  - (5) A description of any gaps that remain that were not or could not be addressed by the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) during that year.
  - (6) An identification and explanation of uncommitted or uncosted balances for the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1), as of the date of the submission of the summary required by [paragraph (1)](#b-1) of subsection (b) or the report required by [paragraph (2)](#c-2) of that subsection, as the case may be, that are greater than the acceptable carryover thresholds, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Energy.
  - (7) An identification of funds for the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) received through contributions from or cost-sharing agreements with foreign governments consistent with [section 6155(e)](/usc/10/6155.md?p=e) during the year preceding the submission of the summary required by [paragraph (1)](#b-1) of subsection (b) or the report required by [paragraph (2)](#c-2) of that subsection, as the case may be, and an explanation of such contributions and agreements.
  - (8) A description and assessment of activities carried out under the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) during that year that were coordinated with other elements of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Energy, with the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense, and with other Federal [agencies](/usc/10/3451.md?p=3), to maximize efficiency and avoid redundancies.
  - (9) Plans for activities of the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) during the five-year period beginning on the date on which the summary required by [paragraph (1)](#b-1) of subsection (b) or the report required by [paragraph (2)](#c-2) of that subsection, as the case may be, is submitted, including activities with respect to the following:
    - (A) Preventing nuclear and radiological proliferation and terrorism, including through—
      - (i) material management and minimization, particularly with respect to removing or minimizing the use of highly enriched uranium, plutonium, and radiological materials worldwide (and identifying the countries in which such materials are located), efforts to dispose of surplus material, converting reactors from highly enriched uranium to low-enriched uranium (and identifying the countries in which such reactors are located);
      - (ii) global nuclear material security, including securing highly enriched uranium, plutonium, and radiological materials worldwide (and identifying the countries in which such materials are located), and providing radiation detection capabilities at foreign ports and borders;
      - (iii) nonproliferation and arms control, including nuclear verification and safeguards;
      - (iv) defense nuclear research and development, including a description of activities related to developing and improving technology to detect the proliferation and detonation of nuclear weapons, verifying compliance of foreign countries with commitments under treaties and agreements relating to nuclear weapons, and detecting the diversion of nuclear materials (including safeguards technology); and
      - (v) nonproliferation construction [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1), including activities associated with [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Energy Order 413.1 (relating to [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) management controls).
    - (B) Countering nuclear and radiological proliferation and terrorism.
    - (C) Responding to nuclear and radiological proliferation and terrorism, including through—
      - (i) crisis operations;
      - (ii) consequences management; and
      - (iii) emergency management, including international capacity building.
  - (10) A threat assessment, carried out by the intelligence community (as defined in section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 ([50 U.S.C. 3003(4)](/usc/50/3003.md?p=4))), with respect to the risk of nuclear and radiological proliferation and terrorism and a description of how each activity carried out under the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) will counter the threat during the five-year period beginning on the date on which the summary required by [paragraph (1)](#b-1) of subsection (b) or the report required by [paragraph (2)](#c-2) of that subsection, as the case may be, is submitted and, as appropriate, in the longer term.
  - (11) A plan for funding the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) during that five-year period.
  - (12) An identification of metrics and objectives for determining the effectiveness of each activity carried out under the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) during that five-year period.
  - (13) A description of the activities to be carried out under the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) during that five-year period and a description of how the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) will be prioritized relative to other defense nuclear nonproliferation [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) of the Administration during that five-year period to address the highest priority risks and requirements, as informed by the threat assessment carried out under [paragraph (10)](#c-10).
  - (14) A description and assessment of activities to be carried out under the [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) during that five-year period that will be coordinated with other elements of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Energy, with the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Defense, and with other Federal [agencies](/usc/10/3451.md?p=3), to maximize efficiency and avoid redundancies.
  - (15) A summary of the technologies and capabilities documented under [section 6160(a)](/usc/10/6160.md?p=a).
  - (16) A summary of the assessments conducted under [section 6160(b)(1)](/usc/10/6160.md?p=b-1).
  - (17) Such other matters as the [Administrator](/usc/10/2700.md?p=3) considers appropriate.

## Source credit

(Added and amended Pub. L. 119–60, div. C, title XXXI, § 3111(a), (d)(2)(B), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1382, 1462.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 6159, added Pub. L. 85–56, title XXII, § 2201(31)(C), June 17, 1957, 71 Stat. 161, provided for a pension to disabled naval enlisted personnel serving 20 years or more, equal to one-half the pay of enlisted man’s rating at the time of his discharge, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 91–482, § 1(a), Oct. 21, 1970, 84 Stat. 1082.

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 2575 of Title 50, War and National Defense, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(b)(1).

### Amendments

2025—Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(d)(2)(B), realigned margins.