Costs of U.S. Nuclear Forces Projected to Soar
By Jonathan Landay
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The costs of operating and modernizing America’s nuclear forces through 2034 are projected to soar to $946 billion, which is 25% higher than a 2023 estimate, according to a report by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
Sentinel Cost Overrun Excluded
This new projection does not account for an 81% cost overrun of the Sentinel, a new intercontinental ballistic missile being developed to replace the Trident (NSE:TRIE) III, the core of America’s ICBM force.
Analysts believe this massive increase in nuclear arsenal costs complicates U.S. President Donald Trump’s pledge to boost the defense budget to $1 trillion in fiscal 2026. Nuclear expenditures are split between the Pentagon and the Department of Energy, which oversees the U.S. arsenal.
Daryl Kimball, head of the Arms Control Association, stated, “The costs of the existing nuclear modernization program are skyrocketing beyond all expectation.”
Congressional Decisions Loom
The CBO has indicated Congress will need to decide in the coming years on the nuclear forces the U.S. should maintain and the extent of modernization. So far, Trump has not outlined his nuclear strategy or appointed officials to manage it. Furthermore, arms control negotiations between Washington and Moscow remain stalled, with the last pact capping U.S. and Russian strategic forces expiring soon.
In February, Trump expressed his opposition to introducing new U.S. nuclear weapons and criticized the maintenance costs. He also showed interest in negotiating an arms control pact with Moscow and Beijing, which is developing a smaller nuclear arsenal.
Breakdown of Costs
The CBO’s current plans for U.S. strategic and tactical nuclear forces, including new bombers, submarines, and ICBMs, estimate costs at $946 billion, averaging $95 billion annually through 2034. The 2023 projection is $756 billion over the 2023-2032 period, with the increase attributed to rising costs in developing the Sentinel ICBM, modernizing nuclear command and control systems, and upgrading DOE production facilities. The new projection extends by two additional years beyond the previous estimate.
Comments (7)
Seggy
08:00 - 25/04/2025
US nuclear force costs projected to soar to get things done right
Seggy
08:00 - 25/04/2025
US nuclear force costs projected to soar to get things done right
Seggy
08:00 - 25/04/2025
US nuclear force costs projected to soar to get things done right
Quân
06:56 - 25/04/2025
Ok
thanhlich
05:44 - 25/04/2025
Good