United States

The United States invented nuclear weapons, operates the second largest nuclear force in the world and holds the dubious distinction of being the only country to use these weapons in combat. As a result, the U.S. has a special responsibility to lead the way in reducing its own nuclear weapons stockpile and calling for other nuclear armed nations to follow suite. Following is analysis and opinion from Ploughshares Fund staff, grantees and guests on the ongoing struggle to deal with nuclear weapons in the United States.

  • When Nuclear Spending Comes at the Expense of the Troops

    Supporting the troops is an important value for many Americans. Unfortunately, both soldiers and veterans often get short shrift when it comes to actually allocating budgets.

    May 10, 2012 - By Margaret Swink

  • A Distinguished Legacy: Honoring Senator Lugar

    Indiana Senator Richard Lugar is a tough, seasoned conservative who could be brutal when fighting for his positions.  When it came to national security issues, however, Senator Lugar always put the national interest above partisan politics.

    May 9, 2012 - By admin

  • European Leadership Network Visits Washington

    Last week, a British-German delegation of the European Leadership Network (ELN) made the rounds in Washington. ELN, a non-profit, non-partisan organization based in the United Kingdom, works to promote the idea of multilateral nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. The group has built and continues to expand an impressive, high-level network of senior political, military and diplomatic leaders.

    April 23, 2012 - By Rebecca Remy

  • Ploughshares Fund Grantee Uncovers Poor Nuclear Management, Costing Taxpayers Millions

    Upon filing of a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit by Nuclear Watch New Mexico, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) released Performance

    April 6, 2012 - By Megan Murphy

  • Time for Action on the Test Ban Treaty

    A U.S. president once said that not achieving a nuclear test ban treaty “would have to be classed as the greatest disappointment of any administration – of any decade – of any time and of any party.” 

    April 3, 2012 - By Mary Kaszynski

  • Making the Impossible Possible - Video

    Every year some 900 experts from the social, finance, private and public sectors convene in Oxford for the Skoll World Forum. Their goal: coming up with innovative, effective solutions to the problems of the dynamic, globalized, 21st century world.

    March 30, 2012 - By admin

  • Playing Politics With Nuclear Security

    When a Republican president negotiates reductions in nuclear arsenals, it is statecraft; when a Democratic president does the same, it is treason. That, at least, is the position advanced this week by several leading Republican politicians and their political advisors.

    March 28, 2012 - By Joe Cirincione

  • Finding New Options on Iran

    Last week, Ploughshares Fund grantee, the Stimson Center released a new report by co-founder and distinguished fellow Barry Blechman examining tensions between the U.S. and Russia over Iran's nuclear program and laying out options for resolution of the crisis. It's a practical, nonpartisan look at one of the most high-stakes political arguments in the news today. Ploughshares Fund gets the inside scoop from Blechman in a short interview below. 

    March 22, 2012 - By admin

  • The Steady Decline of Global Nuclear Stockpiles

    Russia got rid of an estimated 1,000 nuclear warheads last year, according to a new report from Hans Kristensen and Robert Norris of the Federation of American Scientists, a Ploughshares Fund grantee. That brings the estimated number of nuclear warheads in the world down below 20,000 for the first time since 1959. Russia had already retired these warheads and slated them for dismantlement, so the strategic calculus has not changed. However, it is a strong data point showing the steep downward trend of global nuclear arsenals.

    March 14, 2012 - By Ben Loehrke

  • Honoring the Ladies of Nuclear Policy

    Today is International Women’s Day, a time to recognize the economic, social, and political achievements of women worldwide. That makes it a perfect time to pay tribute to the many women making a powerful impact on nuclear weapons policy.

    March 8, 2012 - By Megan Murphy