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Ploughshares Blog: Defense Budget

State of the Union to Reinvigorate Nuclear Policy Agenda
On the radar: Smaller arsenal, budget savings; Nukes in SOTU; Iran converting more fuel; More flaws in missile defense plans; Timelines on solid fuel ICBM; and the FMCT push.   Read more »
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Posted on February 11, 2013
North Korea’s Launch: Timing, Politics, and Technological Significance
On the radar: Kim’s bargaining position; Satellite much easier than warhead; Nuclear complex now on Google Earth; Likelihood of DPRK nuclear test; Strategic dialogue with Russia; $100 billion in nuclear cuts; and Continued worry about Pakistan. Read more »
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Posted on December 13, 2012
Budget Savings from Eliminating ICBMs, Reducing Arsenal
On the radar: Triad costs getting prohibitive; Romney on an Iranian dirty bomb; Iran’s decreased 20% stockpile; Ashton talks talks; TVA shies away from MOX; and Iran can’t stand it, knows you planned it.   Read more »
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Posted on September 18, 2012
Defense Hawks Spar on Nuclear Cuts
You can tell the conversation in Washington is changed when defense hawks argue we should cut the nuclear arsenal and use the funds elsewhere. That is exactly what happened last week on the floor of the House. Read more »
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Posted by Ben Loehrke on July 23, 2012
Congressional Debate, Ed Markey, House of Representatives, Michael Turner, new start, Norman Dicks, Nuclear Budget, Nuclear Weapons, Defense Budget
Day #6: 100% of Your Money Goes to our Programs
From the very first moment that Ploughshares Fund was founded, we understood that people don’t want to fund paperclips, they want to fund peace. That’s why every dollar you donate goes directly to our grantmaking program, with nothing subtracted for administrative or overhead costs. That means your contribution funds a carefully selected set of grants to the smartest people with the best ideas for effective nuclear weapons policy, all with the shared goal of eliminating nuclear weapons. Read more »
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Posted by Megan Murphy on December 16, 2011
new start, peace, Russia, Defense Budget, Pakistan
How the Debt Deal Creates an Opportunity to Cut Nuclear Weapons
As the dust settles on the debt ceiling deal, it’s become clear that major cuts to defense spending have not only been approved in a bipartisan manner by Congress, but that even more are on the way. This means that the days of unlimited defense spending increases, where all systems can be purchased, are over. Read more »
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Posted by Joel Rubin on August 3, 2011
bloated weapons systems, Nuclear Budget, Nuclear Weapons, Pentagon, U.S. Foreign Policy, Defense Budget, United States
The Global Costs of Nuclear Weapons
In the United States, heated debates about the deficit and the debt ceiling are forcing policymakers to take a hard look at reductions across the board, including cuts to defense spending. A new report from Ploughshares Fund grantee Global Zero reminds us that it’s not just the U.S. struggling with the fiscal burden of maintaining – and modernizing – an arsenal of nuclear weapons. Read more »
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Posted by Kelly Bronk on July 21, 2011
Nuclear Budget, Nuclear Zero, Defense Budget, United States
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. Read more »
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Posted by Joe Cirincione on July 15, 2011
Nuclear Budget, Nuclear Weapons, U.S. Foreign Policy, Defense Budget, U.S. Nuclear Policy, Other, United States
Smart Money to Stop Nuclear Terrorism
Congress just took a small but important bipartisan step to make America safer. Read more »
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Posted by Joe Cirincione on July 14, 2011
Nuclear Budget, Nuclear Weapons, Nuclear Terrorism, Defense Budget, Proliferation, U.S. Nuclear Policy, United States
Advice to Panetta: Cut the Nuclear Budget
Today Leon Panetta begins his term as Secretary of Defense.  One of his first tasks will be reigning in a Pentagon budget that has more than doubled in the last decade (the Department's fiscal year 2012 budget request is $671 billion). Read more »
Posted by Joe Cirincione on July 1, 2011
Nuclear Budget, Nuclear Weapons, Defense Budget, U.S. Nuclear Policy, United States