# Plain Language Summary: Smarter Approaches to Nuclear Expenditures Act

This bill would significantly reduce how much money the United States spends on nuclear weapons and scale back the size of the nuclear arsenal. The core idea is that America maintains far more nuclear weapons than it actually needs, left over from the Cold War era, and the bill argues this money could be better spent elsewhere. According to the bill's findings, the government is projected to spend nearly $500 billion between 2019 and 2028 just to maintain and upgrade nuclear weapons, with costs potentially reaching $1.7 trillion through 2046 when adjusted for inflation. The bill's supporters contend that these massive expenses are unnecessary and that military experts have said the country could safely reduce its nuclear forces while still maintaining strong national security.

The bill puts specific limits on nuclear weapons programs starting in 2022. It would cap the number of nuclear-armed submarines at eight instead of allowing more, reduce land-based missiles to no more than 150, and limit deployed nuclear warheads to 1,000. It also blocks funding for several new weapons projects, including a new cruise missile, a new intercontinental ballistic missile, and efforts to make fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons. The bill prohibits spending on low-yield nuclear warheads—smaller nuclear weapons that some argue make nuclear war more likely—and stops funding for a major uranium processing facility in Tennessee.

For taxpayers, the practical impact would be significant cost savings. The bill references a Congressional Budget Office analysis showing that trimming back current nuclear plans could save between $12.4 billion and $13.6 billion over the next decade, with even larger savings in subsequent years. These savings could potentially be redirected to other defense needs or deficit reduction. The bill also requires the Defense and Energy departments to provide detailed reports on how they'll implement these changes and what the actual cost savings will be, ensuring Congress has better information about nuclear spending going forward. However, the bill faces opposition from those who argue that maintaining a large nuclear arsenal is essential for deterrence and national security.

Smarter Approaches to Nuclear Expenditures Act

Blumenauer, Earl

Smarter Approaches to Nuclear Expenditures Act This bill imposes prohibitions and limitations on funding for various Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Energy (DOE) weapons programs. Weapons subjected to prohibitions or limitations under this bill include Columbia-class submarines, intercontinental ballistic missiles, low-yield nuclear warheads, and space-based missile defense systems. The bill also requires various reports to Congress, including a joint report from DOD and DOE outlining the estimated cost savings resulting from this bill.