To Build or Not to Build?

Periodically the United States government reviews its doctrine on the strategic purpose and potential use of nuclear weapons. In keeping with its most recent Nuclear Posture Review, released in 2002, the Bush administration has proposed a revision of the role of nuclear weapons in U.S. foreign policy. In place of the Cold War “triad” of nuclear delivery vehicles based on land, at sea, and in the air, the review proposed a “new triad” consisting of offensive strike systems, an expansion of missile defense initiatives, and the construction of a “revitalized infrastructure” designed to develop and produce new nuclear weapons as needed. A central component of this revitalized infrastructure is the plan to build a new nuclear weapons plant in Kansas City.

This report addresses the proposal to modernize and upgrade the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) nuclear weapons complex, with a special focus on the Kansas City Plant. NNSA is the semi-autonomous agency in the Department of Energy (DOE) that handles their nuclear weapons program. For the complete document, please see the attached PDF below.