R48194 — The U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise: Background and Possible Issues for Congress
Reports · published 2025-08-15 · v7 · Active · crsreports.congress.gov ↗
- Read
- HTML · PDF
- Authors
- Anya L. Fink
- Report id
R48194
Summary
Created in 2000, the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) semi-autonomous National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is responsible for managing the U.S. stockpile of nuclear warheads that the Department of Defense (DOD) mounts on a triad (missiles, bombers, submarines) of U.S. nuclear delivery vehicles. The United States is currently engaged in a generational modernization of its nuclear deterrent, which current U.S. strategy argues needs to be “safe, secure, and effective.” As part of this modernization, NNSA seeks to sustain and modernize the U.S. nuclear warhead stockpile as well as recapitalize related infrastructure in the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE). The NSE, whose footprint has been reduced since its Cold War peak, currently consists of eight contractor-operated research, development, and production sites overseen by NNSA. A number of other DOE facilities, described in this report, also contribute to the lifecycle of U.S. nuclear weapons. As of 2024, NNSA is carrying out seven warhead modernization programs for the DOD and recapitalizing infrastructure to ensure its ability to produce nuclear weapons materials and components over the long-term. Then-NNSA Administrator Jill Hruby stated in 2024 that “NNSA is being asked to do more than at any time since the Manhattan Project.” In a 2025 speech, she also emphasized that the NSE will require further “increased investment,” including to avoid delays in implementing the current program of record through the mid-2030s. For Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, NNSA requested $24.9 billion for the Weapons Activities account. This is $5.6 billion (29%) more than the enacted funding of $19.3 billion in FY2025, out of the $30.0 billion total budget request for NNSA. This FY2026 Weapons Activities request amount includes $4.8 billion in “mandatory Reconciliation resources.” Congress authorizes funding for NNSA Weapons Activities in the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and appropriates funding for NNSA through the annual Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. It plays an important role in providing oversight for NNSA’s implementation of Weapons Activities as well as over issues related to NNSA governance; NNSA relationship with DOD, especially insofar as it impacts nuclear weapons modernization timelines; NNSA’s relationship with contractors operating NSE sites; and NNSA’s ability to manage programmatic and other risks. The Senate confirms Presidential nominees for the Secretary of Energy, the NNSA Administrator, and several other senior NNSA positions. It also confirms Presidential nominees for the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, an independent agency created by Congress to advise DOE leadership regarding the safety and security of nuclear defense facilities. Congress has periodically empaneled commissions to review NSE challenges and offer recommendations. Through authorizing and appropriations legislation, Congress also has set various requirements, timelines, and implementation guidelines for NNSA warhead modernization, material production, and infrastructure recapitalization programs. Members of Congress have expressed concerns about NNSA’s ability to meet some of these goals, carry out capital infrastructure projects on time and within budget, and hire and retain contractor and federal staff in the NSE. Given an increase in NNSA’s workload as part of U.S. nuclear weapons modernization, Congress has sought to balance its concerns about NNSA program implementation with overall support for NNSA’s growing budget requests.
Bills cited (3)
Curated by CRS — every bill listed in this report's relatedMaterials. Edge type cited_in_report, gold confidence.