4. Department of Defense · Major · Needs Congress
Expand and modernize the U.S. nuclear force to deter Russia and China simultaneously
Printed page 95 4. Department of Defense
“Expand and modernize the U.S. nuclear force so that it has the size, sophistication, and tailoring to deter Russia and China simultaneously.”
What has happened
- Partially done
The FY2026 NDAA set SLCM-N deployment milestones (sec. 1633) and a B-21 nuclear-certification deadline (sec. 1634). The December 2025 National Security Strategy states the goal of 'the world's most robust, credible, and modern nuclear deterrent'. Modernization is funded and under way; no allowlisted source records an increase in deployed warheads or delivery systems beyond New START levels.
- Partially done
Sec. 20008 of the reconciliation act appropriated about $11.3 billion to DoD and $3.9 billion to NNSA for nuclear forces on top of the base budget: Sentinel ICBM risk reduction ($2.5 billion), expanded B-21 production capacity and additional aircraft ($4.5 billion), Trident D5LE2, the SLCM-N ($2 billion plus warhead), Minuteman III sustainment, and $62 million to convert Ohio-class tubes to carry additional missiles — the one line that enlarges the force rather than replacing it.
Research log
What was searched, and what didn’t count as evidence
Research notes
- The Mandate asks for both expansion and modernization. Modernization programs (Sentinel, B-21, Columbia, D5LE2) predate the window; the events above are the additional money and the milestones enacted since. Expansion — uploading warheads or adding launchers — has not been documented on an allowlisted source; the Ohio-tube conversion line is the closest. Held at partial.
- New START expired 2026-02-05; no presidential document on post-treaty force levels was found in the presidential documents in the Federal Register or the White House’s presidential actions (searched for “New START”, “strategic arms”).
- Action
- expand
- Object
- U.S. nuclear force
- ID
- 140