The New Arms Race

Nuclear weapons do nothing to protect us from 21st century threats. Yet the US government is planning to spend over $2 trillion during the next 30 years to rebuild its arsenal – plans that could push Russia, China and other countries to build even more nuclear weapons. In short, the world is on the brink of a new nuclear arms race that will only accelerate if current plans stay on track.

Every dollar spent on re-building our arsenal is a dollar less for our true defense needs. We need to end wasteful nuclear programs and to realign our spending priorities with today’s threats.

Latest News and Analysis on the New Nuclear Arms Race

Obama's unfinished business

As voters go to the polls in New Hampshire, we are reminded that President Obama’s time in office is coming to a close. But it’s not too late to take care of unfinished business. Nearly seven years ago, President Obama gave hope to tens of thousands gathered in central Prague, and to billions...

February 9, 2016 - By Tom Collina
CAP and CATO Institute agree on one thing...

According to a brand new report from the Center for American Progress (a report we're proud to have sponsored): "Over the next 30 years, the cost of the nuclear...

February 3, 2016 - By Will Lowry
Defense Modernization Plans Through the 2020s: Addressing the Bow Wave

The Department of Defense plans to modernize all three legs (strategic bombers, ICBMs, and submarine-launched ballistic missiles) of the nuclear arsenal at once, while modernizing conventional forces as well. "Many weapons programs will be at or near their peak years of funding requirements at...

January 28, 2016 - By Will Lowry
A New Arms Race Threatens to Bring the US and Russia Back to the Nuclear Brink

The horror and reactions to the Paris massacre have overshadowed a troubling new twist in the U.S.-Russian rivalry that could prove even more terrifying. Russian state media recently “accidentally” revealed plans for a bizarre new nuclear torpedo.

November 23, 2015 - By Joe Cirincione
Meet the Budget Busting B61 Nuclear Bomb

The U.S. is poised to spend $11.6 billion to upgrade a handful of nuclear bombs - with each bomb costing more than twice its weight in gold. The bombs were originally put in Europe to roll back a Soviet land invasion. With the Cold War over, the costly bomb upgrades would rack up more debt while adding no benefit to our security.

Why are the bombs still around? What else could the U.S. buy with the money? How much gold are we talking about? See the infographic below.

July 9, 2013 - By Ben Loehrke
Why the Navy is not Paying for Missile Defense

The Navy’s Aegis missile defense system is the backbone of the Obama administration’s Phased Adaptive Approach to missile defense. So why isn’t the Navy paying anything for missile defense? The omission, revealed by Pentagon missile defense budget estimates, says a lot about Navy priorities during an era of tightening budgets.

August 27, 2012 - By Ben Loehrke
Sinking the Navy with Excessive Nuclear Requirements

In tight budget times, the U.S. Navy cannot afford to waste funds on excessive capabilities for outdated Cold War weapons. Yet that is what some in Congress are attempting to do by blocking retirement of excess nuclear-armed submarines.

May 14, 2012 - By Ben Loehrke
Our Oscar Pick: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

It might not have received a nomination for Best Picture, but ‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy’ is our stand out film this Oscar season.

February 24, 2012 - By Megan Murphy
When the Nuclear Budget Binge Ended

Washington is slowly moving toward tightening budgets and being smarter with its security dollars.

February 14, 2012 - By Ben Loehrke
SANE Act Calls for Cuts to Nuclear Budget

After months of work on the campaign to slash the nuclear weapons budget, the concept is firmly taking hold in Congress.

February 9, 2012 - By Megan Murphy