Workshop on the Future of the US Nuclear Arsenal

The U.S. government is currently considering widespread changes to the U.S. nuclear arsenal. Those changes include replacing the twelve different types of warheads in the current stockpile with five new designs—three to be delivered by submarines and land-based long-range missiles, and two to be used on air-delivered cruise missiles and bombs. Known as “3+2,” the plan could eventually help reduce the total number of warheads maintained by the United States—including those in the “hedge” or reserve arsenal—but it carries complex implications for U.S. safety and security overall.

To discuss these and related issues, the Union of Concerned Scientists and the American Association for the Advancement of Science hosted a day-long workshop on September 12, 2014. Participants included active and retired scientists and engineers from Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratories; representatives from the National Nuclear Security Administration, the Department of Defense, and the Office of Management and Budget; independent scientists who are members of the JASON panel that advises the government on nuclear weapons and other security issues; and experts from non-governmental organizations and academia.