Making Smart Security Choices

The report examines the U.S. nuclear weapons complex, focusing on life extension programs, stockpile surveillance, and the management of weapons-usable fissile materials. It argues that several planned facility expansions, such as the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement–Nuclear Facility and a second press at the High Explosives Pressing Facility, are unnecessary based on current arsenal needs and plutonium pit lifetimes. The authors recommend canceling the Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel program in favor of immobilization for plutonium disposal and suggest increasing research into warhead-level verification for future arms reductions. The document also emphasizes the need to prioritize the Stockpile Surveillance Program and maintain a skilled workforce through competitive benefits and research opportunities.

• The NNSA's plan to replace seven weapon types with five 'interoperable' warheads (the 3+2 plan) could be seen as a violation of the U.S. pledge not to develop new nuclear weapons and may impact weapon reliability.
• Existing facilities can produce enough plutonium pits to sustain the arsenal even with some life extension programs, making the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research ReplacementNuclear Facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory unnecessary.
• Plutonium pits have a credible minimum lifetime of at least 100 years, and some research suggests they remain stable for up to 150 years, meaning replacement of aging pits is not required for the foreseeable future.
• The planned production capacity of 80 canned subassemblies (CSAs) per year at the Uranium Processing Facility (UPF) is likely excessive, as a capacity of 10 secondaries would meet national security requirements.
• The NNSA has not prioritized the Stockpile Surveillance Program, leading to concerns from laboratory directors and the JASON group that the program is becoming inadequate.
• The National Ignition Facility (NIF) has failed to achieve fusion ignition, which may limit the NNSA's ability to confidently implement aggressive modifications to weapons during life extension programs.
• The U.S. maintains significantly more weapons-usable fissile material than required for its current or future arsenal, including enough plutonium for approximately 10,000 weapons.
• The Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel program for plutonium disposal presents higher security risks than immobilization because fresh MOX fuel lacks the high radioactivity that deters theft.
• The U.S. retains enough highly enriched uranium (HEU) for 10,000 to 16,000 weapons, and the 2050 deadline for disposing of excess HEU is considered arbitrary.
• Dismantlement of retired warheads at the Pantex Plant competes for limited space and personnel with surveillance and life extension programs.
• Research and funding for verifying nuclear arms reductions, particularly at the warhead level, have declined over the last decade.
• The NNSA has successfully attracted and retained a qualified workforce using competitive salaries, benefits, and programs like 'Work for Others' and the Livermore Valley Open Campus.

APA

Gronlund, L., MacDonald, E., Young, S., III, P. E. C., & Fetter, S. (2014). Making Smart Security Choices. Union of Concerned Scientists. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/nuclear-weapons-complex-report.pdf

Chicago

Gronlund, Lisbeth, Eryn MacDonald, Stephen Young, Philip E. Coyle III, and Steve Fetter. Making Smart Security Choices. Union of Concerned Scientists, 2014. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/nuclear-weapons-complex-report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Gronlund |first1=Lisbeth |last2=MacDonald |first2=Eryn |last3=Young |first3=Stephen |last4=III |first4=Philip E. Coyle |last5=Fetter |first5=Steve |title=Making Smart Security Choices |publisher=Union of Concerned Scientists |date=March 2014 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/nuclear-weapons-complex-report.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{gronlund2014making, author = {Gronlund, Lisbeth and MacDonald, Eryn and Young, Stephen and III, Philip E. Coyle and Fetter, Steve}, title = {{Making Smart Security Choices}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2014}, month = mar, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/nuclear-weapons-complex-report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }