Operating and modernizing the U.S. nuclear arsenal will cost nearly $1 trillion between 2025 and 2034, according to a new report from the Congressional Budget Office. The projected $946 billion price tag includes spending from the Defense and Energy Departments on warheads, delivery systems, and infrastructure.
The CBO says nuclear acquisition programs will account for 12% of Pentagon procurement costs over the next decade. This has sparked concern among watchdogs and arms control advocates. “Skyrocketing prices siphon resources from more pressing human needs,” said Daryl Kimball of the Arms Control Association.
Critics also highlight inefficiencies in the system, with modernization projects like the Sentinel missile and Columbia-class submarines over budget and behind schedule. Greg Mello of the Los Alamos Study Group warned that more funding won’t necessarily accelerate production.
Some defense contractors argue the process could be streamlined by involving private firms like Fuse, a startup aiming to become a next-gen nuclear security prime.
As global tensions escalate, policymakers face difficult choices between deterrence, cost, and competing priorities.
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