If Biden still seeks to ensure safety and prosperity for the American people, increasing Pentagon spending on nuclear weapons is not the way to go.
By Christian Ephriam, National Priorities Project
It appears that, once again, Congress will pass a colossal military spending budget as part of the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act. This June, the Senate Armed Services Committee voted to tack an additional $45 billion dollars onto Biden’s proposed national defense budget, raising the topline figure to a whopping $847 billion dollars.
A major component of this year’s proposed defense budget, much like last year’s, are efforts to “recapitalize and modernize” the nation’s “nuclear stockpile, delivery systems, and infrastructure” in light of the increasing supposed nuclear threats posed by Russia, China, and North Korea. The Senate Armed Services Committee’s proposals would allocate $22 billion to the National Nuclear Security Administration, $6.5 billion to the Department of Energy’s Defense Environmental Cleanup activities, $1.1 billion for the Department of Defense’s nuclear and defense activities, and an additional $2.9 billion to bolster U.S. plutonium pit capabilities as part of these efforts. Meanwhile, the House Armed Services Committee has pledged $29.5 billion for nuclear weapons programs within the Department of Energy, signaling a unified commitment to the nuclear enterprise.
Recent Posts
The Perilous Norm of Weapons Testing
Take Action Now It’s easy to dismiss a “test” as something less than the full terrifying reality of nuclear weapons use.By Emma Claire Foley On…
The Old Road Is Rapidly Aging
Take Action Now The Democratic Establishment Mistook Longevity for LeadershipBy Jackson Rubin, The Working Model If the Mamdani victory on Tuesday…
‘Absolutely Pathetic’: Senate Democrats Denounced For Caving To GOP In Shutdown Fight
Take Action Now “Let’s be clear — this proposal isn’t a compromise, it’s a capitulation,” said one progressive lawmaker in the US House.By Jon…
Layoffs in 2025 Second-Highest Since 2009 in Potential Sign of Looming Recession
Take Action Now “Those laid off now are finding it harder to quickly secure new roles,” one of the report’s authors said.By Chris Walker,…