12. Department of Energy and Related Commissions · Minor
Review and refocus the Nuclear Weapons Council
Printed page 400 12. Department of Energy and Related Commissions
“Review the operations of the Nuclear Weapons Council (NWC). The statutorily established NWC is required to report to the President and Congress but needs to refocus its efforts on providing comprehensive oversight of DOE and DOD nuclear weapons policy and requirements.”
What has happened
- Done
P.L. 119-60 section 1631 amended 10 U.S.C. 179 to make the Nuclear Weapons Council the primary mechanism for integrating, streamlining and ensuring unity of purpose and direction for nuclear deterrence activities across the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy, and added a new first responsibility of overseeing those activities including policy and resources and developing options for adjusting the deterrence posture. Further paragraphs were rewritten to give the Council approval authority over new weapon program starts and research priorities. That is the comprehensive oversight of DOE and DOD nuclear weapons policy and requirements the Quote asks for.
Research log
What was searched, and what didn’t count as evidence
Research notes
Enacted by statute rather than by the executive review the Quote contemplates, but the object — a refocused Council with comprehensive oversight of both departments’ nuclear weapons policy and requirements — is now in force.
Section text read at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-119publ60/html/PLAW-119publ60.htm.
- Action
- other
- Object
- Nuclear Weapons Council (NWC)
- ID
- 1018