$700 billion. That’s what the US is planning to spend [2] on nuclear weapons and related programs over the next decade.

$700 billion is a lot of money. And a lot of isn’t going towards [3] essential programs. Experts and policymakers on both sides of the aisle agree that we can trim the fat [4] from the nuclear weapons budget without risking national security. Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) has a plan that will save $79 billion [5] over ten years. Representative Ed Markey (D-MA) says we can find even more - up to $200 billion [6]. The Brookings Institute’s Michael O’Hanlon found $35 billion [7]; CATO’s Ben Friedman and Chris Preble say we can safely cut $104 billion [8].

You could do a lot with these savings. You could, for example, put the money towards equipment our troops actually need, instead of bombs that sit around gathering dust.

This new ad from the American Values Network and American Security Project explores the question of what we could do if we didn’t spend so much on nukes. “Our Troops Deserve Better,” the ad says.

We agree.