Smarter Approaches to Nuclear Expenditures Act

Smarter Approaches to Nuclear Expenditures Act (S. 2930) would dramatically scale back U.S. nuclear forces and prohibit the deployment of low-yield or nonstrategic nuclear weapons, while imposing new reporting and planning requirements for the Defense Department (DoD) and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). The bill sets explicit caps on force structure (submarines, ICBMs, deployed warheads, and bombers), bans several modernization and weaponization programs (including low-yield weapons, space-based missile defenses, and certain new missiles), and places tight controls on plutonium pit production and the Uranium Processing Facility. It would require the administration to produce integrated schedules and cost estimates, with annual reporting to Congress on plans and spending. The stated aim is to shrink spending on nuclear weapons and neutralize support for low-yield capabilities, while maintaining a nuclear deterrent. Potential impact includes substantial reductions in planned procurement and modernization, potential savings in the federal budget over time, and a shift in the U.S. deterrence posture. Critics may argue that the caps and prohibitions could constrain modernization and readiness or affect peacetime deterrence and alliance planning. Supporters would emphasize budget discipline, avoidance of unnecessary risk, and alignment with prudent modernization choices.