NUCLEAR WEAPONS: NNSA's Modernization Efforts Would Benefit from a Portfolio Management Approach

Abstract

NNSA is simultaneously modernizing the nations nuclear weapon stockpile and the infrastructure on which weapon programs depend. In a 2019 report, NNSA stated that this is the busiest time for the nuclear security enterprise since the Cold War era. GAOs April 2017 review of NNSA nuclear modernization programs concluded that NNSA made optimistic assumptions about future costs. DOD and DOE estimate that nuclear modernization will cost hundreds of billions of dollars over the next decade. This statement is based on 18 GAO reports issued from July 2003 to February 2020 and selected updates. It discusses (1) NNSAs ongoing and planned programs and projects to modernize weapons and related infrastructure and challenges they present; (2) NNSAs improvements in managing these programs and projects, and additional steps NNSA could take to make further improvements; and (3) GAOs prior recommendation to NNSA on assessing the affordability of its portfolio of modernization programs. To conduct the updates, GAO reviewed DOE planning and budget documents.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 03, 2020
Accession Number
AD1105307

Entities

People

  • Allison B. Bawden

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Best Practices
  • Bombs
  • Cost Estimates
  • Department Of Defense
  • Explosives
  • Governments
  • High Explosives
  • Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles
  • Materials
  • National Security
  • Nuclear Bombs
  • Nuclear Materials
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • Project Management
  • United States
  • United States Government

Readers

  • Defense Technology Research and Development.
  • Nuclear Non-Proliferation and International Security
  • Public Financial Management and Budgeting