Nuclear Budget

The US nuclear weapons budget is vast, difficult to decipher and rife with waste and excess. Following is analysis and opinion from Ploughshares Fund staff, grantees and guests on the continuing effort to shed light on and ultimately correct the nuclear budget.

  • Searching for Cuts, Congress Spars Over Nuclear Weapons

    The following originally appeared as a post on The Atlantic Politics.

    October 13, 2011 - By Joe Cirincione

  • Cutting the Nuclear Budget Burden

    Nuclear weapons programs once enjoyed a relative sanctuary from budget pressures. But things have changed. Policymakers are looking to cut programs that do not advance our national security.

    September 28, 2011 - By Ben Loehrke

  • What We Spend on Nuclear Weapons

    The United States is projected to spend $700 billion on nuclear weapons and related programs during the next ten years. As federal budgets tighten and officials address the most pressing national security needs of the 21st century, the substantial cost of nuclear weapons must be fully examined.

    September 14, 2011 - By Joel Rubin

  • Is the U.S. Ready for a Nuclear Incident?

    Whether it came from accident or malice, the likely consequences of any nuclear attack are difficult to fully comprehend. Billions – maybe trillions – of dollars in damage would result, perhaps tens of thousands of lives would be lost with even more injured or sick, not to mention supply lines cut off and massive panic across the nation.

    In a nation that spends billions of dollars on insurance each year for natural catastrophes from fires and earthquakes to flooding, one would assume that preparing for a man-made disaster of nuclear proportions would be high up on our list of budget priorities. Sadly, this is not the case.

    August 30, 2011 - By Peter Fedewa

  • The Budget Crisis Offers Opportunity To Bend The Arc Of Nuclear Policy

    The U.S. government spends $54 billion a year on nuclear weapons and related programs. Despite the deep fiscal crisis, these budgets are about to go up — to a whopping $700 billion over the next 10 years. It is not at all clear why.

    August 11, 2011 - By Joe Cirincione

  • How the Debt Deal Creates an Opportunity to Cut Nuclear Weapons

    August 3, 2011 - By Joel Rubin

  • The Global Costs of Nuclear Weapons

    July 21, 2011 - By Kelly Bronk

  • The Nuclear Cut at the Deficit

    This week, Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) released "Back in Black," a $9 trillion plan to reduce the U.S. national debt over ten years.

    July 19, 2011 - By Ben Loehrke

  • How to Shave a Bundle Off the Deficit: Spend Less on Nukes

    Congress is in the midst of an intense debate over a massive defense spending bill, and budget negotiations between the Administration and congressional leaders are at a pivotal stage. One key part of our nation's budget must be on the table: nuclear weapons.

    July 15, 2011 - By Joe Cirincione

  • Smart Money to Stop Nuclear Terrorism

    Congress just took a small but important bipartisan step to make America safer.

    July 14, 2011 - By Joe Cirincione