NukesU.S. could safely reduce the U.S. nuclear arsenal: Critics
Over the last twenty-five years, Russian and U.S. nuclear weapons stockpiles have decreased dramatically. Today the U.S. arsenal stands at around 4,500 warheads, including both deployed and stored weapons. Critics of the U.S. current posture say that the United States could safely reduce its arsenal of deployed strategic nuclear weapons by an additional third from New START levels. They also say that the U.S. strategic and tactical “hedge” — weapons kept in reserve as technical and strategic backups – could be reduced as well.
Over the last twenty-five years, Russian and U.S. nuclear weapons stockpiles have decreased dramatically, thanks in part to the efforts of leaders who recognized the risks of nuclear war.
Today the U.S. arsenal stands at around 4,500 warheads, including both deployed and stored weapons. According to the military’s own analysis, the arsenal could still be significantly reduced without compromising deterrence.
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) says that President Obama can and should order these and other reductions immediately. “Past presidents have made similar cuts without involving Congress and without guarantees from Russia; President Obama should do the same.”
What to cut
In 2013, a comprehensive government review found that the United States could safely reduce its arsenal of deployed strategic nuclear weapons by an additional third from New START levels, even if Russia does not make further reductions (New START is a 2010 arms reduction treaty between the United States and Russia).
UCS argues that such a step still makes sense for the United States. The levels outlined by the administration are more than adequate for deterring a nuclear attack, and would cost significantly less to maintain than the current outsized arsenal.
In addition to deployed weapons, the administration could also cut the “hedge” — weapons kept in reserve as technical and strategic backups. UCS analysisfound that the United States could immediately reduce the strategic hedge by at least 1,000 weapons, leaving 1,250 strategic weapons. In addition, the United States could eliminate the tactical hedge of 300 weapons.
Too much plutonium is not a good thing
UCS also argues that U.S. military stockpiles of plutonium and highly enriched uranium are much larger than necessary, expensive to store safely, and pose serious security risks.
Depending on cuts made to the arsenal, the United States could safely dispose of between 18 and 22 metric tons of plutonium (in addition to plutonium currently declared as excess), while still retaining enough for existing warheads.
Similarly, the United States could dispose of an additional 140 to 185 metric tons of highly enriched uranium without impacting the current arsenal.
— Read more in Opportunities for President Obama to Reduce the U.S. Nuclear Arsenal and Stocks of Weapon-Usable Materials (UCS, October 2016)
