Non Proliferation Budget Fact Sheet
March 7, 2011
*Dollars in Billions
House Continuing Resolution is a 24% reduction compared with the FY 11 request and 4.5 percent reduction compared to the 2010 request.
*(2010 Request source is Energy Department Budget Documents. OMB had released a slightly different number: 2.137)
The purpose and budget of the program, as explained by Thomas D’Agostino Under Secretary for Nuclear Security & Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration, in a March 2 hearing:
“As President Obama has said, the threat of a terrorist acquiring and using a nuclear weapon is the most immediate and extreme threat we face. His FY 2012 budget includes $2.5 billion in FY 2012 and $14.2 billion over the next five years to reduce the global nuclear threat by detecting, securing, safeguarding, disposing and controlling nuclear and radiological material, as well as promoting the responsible application of nuclear technology and science. This includes stemming the risk of expertise proliferation through innovative science and technology partnerships.”
Talking points on why these cuts are dangerous
►These are key national security programs designed to keep nuclear weapons and nuclear materials out of the hands of terrorists.
►The program has enjoyed bi-partisan support.
►Experts agree that limiting access to vulnerable nuclear weapons-usable materials greatly reduces the threat of nuclear terrorism.
►The bipartisan 9/11 Commission responsible for investigating the terrorist attacks of September 11th warned that, “The greatest danger of another catastrophic attack in the United States will materialize if the world’s most dangerous terrorists acquire the world’s most dangerous weapons.”
►An important part of this request, Global Threat Reduction Initiative, has made considerable progress in reducing and removing highly enriched uranium, a building block to produce nuclear weapons, from Russia, Serbia, Kazakhstan, South Africa, and Mexico.
►The Senate has an opportunity to reverse these reductions and protect vital national security programs when it considers the Continuing Resolution.