Scientists Working Group member Greg Koblentz was quoted in Roll Call about potential cuts to the Biological Threat Reductions Program budget. Gregory Koblentz, an associate professor at George Mason University and director of the Biodefense Graduate Program at the university’s Schar School of Policy and Government, said the Pentagon’s biological threats program increases America’s warning […]
Nuclear testing: Just say no
By Abby Pokraka Adding to the list of things that make it feel like the world is falling apart, according to reports, the Trump Administration recently discussed conducting an underground nuclear test for the first time since 1992. Policy experts, grassroots organizations and citizens from across the country were quick to condemn this action. Apparently, even the National Nuclear Security Administration thought it was […]
Summary of Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Bill Approved by Senate Armed Services Committee
Note: summary based on Senate Armed Services Committee press release. Top Line Funding Totals $740.5 billion: Total funding supported in the bill: $636.4 billion: Department of Defense discretionary base $ 25.9 billion: Department of Energy discretionary base $ 69.0 billion: Overseas Contingency Operations $ 9.1 billion: Defense-related activities outside the bill’s jurisdiction Shipbuilding Authorizes $21.3 billion for […]
America’s allies support New START extension
The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) will expire on February 5, 2021. If that happens, there will be no legal restraints on the world’s two biggest nuclear arsenals for the first time in nearly 50 years. The United States and Russia can choose to extend the treaty by up to five years, through […]
U.S. seeks to base missiles in the Pacific. Some allies say no.
Senior Policy Director Alexandra Bell spoke with the Los Angeles Times about the United States potentially basing missiles in the pacific. A decision to go ahead in Asia would intensify an arms race between the region’s two biggest powers whose relations — already tense over President Trump’s confrontational trade agenda and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s […]
