Space and Defense
Article Title
Atomic Assurance: Funding a Modern U.S. Test Readiness Program
Abstract
To address intensified strategic competition with Russia and China, the United States should reinstate funding for a modern nuclear Test Readiness Program. The U.S. has never faced the threat of two adversarial powers with nuclear arsenals that equal our own. With the emphasis on great power competition and mounting aggression by both China and Russia, the risk of conflict with either or both powers is growing. Currently, the U.S. is ill prepared for the possible existential challenge that is deterring conflict with two major nuclear peer adversaries.1 America’s defense strategy and approach towards the international order must change to protect its vital interests and improve global stability.2 As more than three decades have passed since the most recent critical nuclear test in 1992, the challenge has been to maintain America’s nuclear stockpile and testing infrastructure with restrictions on zero-yield nuclear experiments, and reduced funding.3 Today, the Department of Energy (DOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) has seen a decline in infrastructure quality due to lack of attention, time, and money.4 The U.S. is ill-prepared to respond to changes in the nuclear geopolitical environment, lacking necessary testing capabilities.5 Testing preparedness ensures that our decision-makers have the tools to respond to unforeseeable escalations from our peer and non-peer adversaries, guaranteeing the U.S. is ready to protect its technological superiority. The escalatory action of resuming nuclear weapons testing is a complicated decision for our nation’s leaders. Instead of test resumption, this article focuses on recommending that the U.S. improve its readiness ability to test nuclear weapons whether or not the U.S. resumes nuclear testing—which would provide a tailored option for decision makers to use in response to high-level adversary nuclear escalations.6 Part I of this article begins by providing an overview history of the Test Readiness program’s role in maintaining the U.S.’s extended nuclear deterrent. Part II presents reasons for funding a modern Test Readiness Program. Part III offers broad policy recommendations for how American nuclear test readiness can be improved to address current shortfalls.