[Senate Hearing 117-]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2022
U.S. Senate,
Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations,
Washington, DC.
The subcommittee met at 10:04 a.m. in room SD-192, Dirksen
Senate Office Building, Hon. Dianne Feinstein (chairwoman)
presiding.
Present: Senators Feinstein, Heinrich, Kennedy, and
Hagerty.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
National Nuclear Security Administration
STATEMENT OF HON. JILL HRUBY, UNDER SECRETARY FOR
NUCLEAR SECURITY AND ADMINISTRATOR
ACCOMPANIED BY:
HON. MARVIN L. ADAMS, PH.D., DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR DEFENSE
PROGRAMS
HON. COREY HINDERSTEIN, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR DEFENSE
NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION
ADMIRAL JAMES F. CALDWELL, JR., DIRECTOR, NAVAL NUCLEAR
PROPULSION PROGRAM, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
opening statement of senator dianne feinstein
Senator Feinstein. The Subcommittee on Energy and Water
Development will come to order.
Today's hearing is going to review the National Nuclear
Security Administration's fiscal year 2023 budget request.
So thank you, Administrator Hruby and your colleagues for
joining us today.
The budget request for NNSA (National Nuclear Security
Administration) totals $21.4 billion. That's a $754.4 million
or a 3.6 percent increase over fiscal year 2022. I can say it's
an all-time high once again.
The Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Programs, which
successfully reduce nuclear dangers, are essentially held flat.
For such accomplished programs, I would expect to see some
greater investment but just a few key nonproliferation
achievements include the elimination of over 7,230 kilograms of
weapons-usable nuclear material from 48 countries, deployment
of 930 counter-nuclear smuggling systems across 79 countries,
and compilation of the 238 Cesium Irradiator Replacement
Project, their removals from U.S. hospitals and universities.
While nonproliferation programs are held flat, the Weapons
Activities Account sees a $566.2 million or 3.5 percent
increase. Both are budget allocations and the Nuclear Weapons
Complex itself will increasingly struggle to accommodate an
over-taxed system. So I expect this Administration to really
make thoughtful choices.
I'm concerned about plutonium pit production. NNSA is
required to make 80 pits per year by 2030 but acknowledged it
would miss that deadline by anywhere from 2 to 5 years.
While NNSA's fiscal year 2023 budget calls for a $2.4
billion increase for pit production modernization and
infrastructure, it's clear that increased funding year after
year is not going to solve systemic problems.
So I look forward to hearing you discuss with us how we can
confront our nuclear deterrence and budgetary challenges
together. I think that's most important and I thank everyone
for being here.
The distinguished Ranking Member Kennedy will now have an
opening statement and then we will turn to Administrator Hruby
to present testimony on behalf of NNSA.
Thank you.
statement of senator john kennedy
Senator Kennedy. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Madam Administrator, thank you for being here. Thanks to
all of our witnesses.
I can't think of an agency more important than the Nuclear
Security Administration, especially now.
This proposed budget is not adequate. It's just not. I know
there's a slight increase in funding, but I tell you what's not
slight, the risks that the world faces today that have been
extraordinarily enhanced in the last 3-4 months.
I mean, anybody with a brain above a single cell organism,
which is most Americans, can see what's going on in the world.
President Putin is working with President Xi, is working with
the Ayatollah in Iran. I think President Xi is the quarterback
but the other two players are critical members of the team. I
think their goal is to have Russia dominate Central and Eastern
Europe. I think their goal is to have China dominate the Indo-
Pacific and be allowed to roam free in at least Sub-Saharan
Africa and maybe all of Africa and also make moves in South
America, and I think their goal is to have the Ayatollah in
Iran dominate the Middle East.
Now I view all of this through the lens of the security of
the United States of America. I do not want America to have to
be the world's policemen, but I don't want Russia and China and
the Ayatollah to be the world's policemen either.
This budget, proposed budget eliminates two weapon systems.
It underfunds programs vital to our national security. Our
distinguished Chair mentioned plutonium pit production. This
proposed budget eliminates the tactical submarine-launched
cruise missile, not acceptable. It's going to retire the B83
Gravity Bomb. It's got inadequate funding for plutonium pit
modernization.
We can do better. American people deserve better, and I'm
hoping we can talk about that today. But thank you all for
being here and thank you, thank you to our Chair. I'm sitting
close to her. I'm hoping some of that wisdom and experience
permeates over this way----
Senator Feinstein. Oh, wow.
Senator Kennedy [continuing.] And I mean that. I mean that.
I sit on Judiciary and the Senator was Chairman of our
Judiciary Committee for a long time and I had the wonderful
experience of being there with her for that, too.
So I'm done, Madam Chair.
Senator Feinstein. Thank you.
We will turn over to our witnesses. I think Administrator
Hruby.
summary statement of hon. jill hruby
Ms. Hruby. Thank you. Thank you, Chairwoman Feinstein,
Ranking Member Kennedy, and Members of the Subcommittee for the
opportunity to present the President's fiscal year 2023 budget
request for the Department of Energy's National Nuclear
Security Administration.
We're grateful for the committee's enduring bipartisan
support.
Chairwoman Feinstein, a written statement has been provided
to the subcommittee and I respectfully request that it be
submitted for the record.
Senator Feinstein. So ordered.
Ms. Hruby. NNSA's fiscal year 2023 budget request, as
mentioned, is $21.4 billion. This request is consistent with
our expanded mission and the increasing pace of program
deliverables as described in the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review.
In today's geopolitical environment, this budget reflects a
responsive and responsible path forward.
The weapons activities request is $16.5 billion, supporting
five warhead modernization program, significant infrastructure
recapitalization, and science-based stockpile stewardship.
NNSA is currently engaged in the simultaneous execution of
our largest weapon modernization program effort in decades and
an overhaul of our aging infrastructure. This approach carries
risk but we are positioned to succeed and we are making
progress.
The W88 Alt 370 and the B61-12 have achieved first
production and are on track to meet DoD (Department of Defense)
deliverables. The W80-4, the W87-1, and the W93 are in various
phases of design and will enter production in the 2020s and
2030s. When complete, these programs, coupled with the DoD
platform modernization, will update all three legs of the
Nuclear Triad.
On the infrastructure front, the Uranium Processing
Facility is fully enclosed with a projection completion date of
2026 and the 90 percent designs are underway for our future pit
production facilities at Los Alamos and Savannah River.
Additionally, our innovative approaches on non-nuclear
construction have demonstrated shortened schedule and reduced
costs. We intend to build on these successes going forward.
Our scientific achievements in stockpile understanding
continue and we intend to build on decades of success. This
budget continues funding for the enhanced capabilities for
subcritical experiments, inertial confinement fusion, exascale
computing, and other key capabilities.
The Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation budget request of $2.3
billion demonstrates the Administration's commitment to
reducing global nuclear threats and is an essential complement
to the weapons activities.
Through judicious use of prior year funding, we have a
stable budget that enables targeted increases in high-priority
projects. We continue to believe that it is easier to prevent a
threat than to roll one back and that technical cooperation on
nonproliferation, counterterrorism, and counter-proliferation
with global allies and partners enhances our national security.
Such preemptive action and cooperation have been especially
important in response to the invasion of Ukraine. In 2012, NNSA
removed over 234 kilograms of highly-enriched uranium from
Ukraine. Clearly the risks on the ground are lower today as a
result.
More recently, NNSA personnel have been engaged in
monitoring Ukraine's nuclear facilities and are in close
contact with Ukrainian, regional, and IAEA (International
Atomic Energy Agency) officials. As a result, we are providing
validated data to assist U.S. decision-makers.
NNSA is increasing our support of nuclear power as a clean
energy source to combat climate change. We are expanding our
efforts in safeguards and security by design for advanced
reactors and are working to supply high-assay low-enriched
uranium to support the development of advanced reactors in
partnership with DOE (Department of Energy) Nuclear Energy.
The Naval Reactors budget request of $2.1 billion will
support our nuclear-powered fleet. Progress on Columbia Class
submarine propulsion, ongoing construction of the Spent Fuel
Handling Facility, and expanded research and development are
all key factors in retaining our qualitative advantage and
naval capability for the current and future fleet.
Finally, we recognize that our people are the backbone of
our enterprise. NNSA's Federal salaries and expenses budget
request of $496 million will be used to recruit, retain, and
support 1,958 Federal employees.
Today, NNSA faces mission requirements as difficult as any
in its history. With your continued support, we will deliver.
Thank you and I look forward to your questions.
[The statements follow:]
Prepared Statement of Hon. Jill Hruby
Chairman Feinstein, Ranking Member Kennedy, and Members of the
Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to present the President's
fiscal year 2023 budget for the Department of Energy's (DOE) National
Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). NNSA greatly appreciates the
Committee's bipartisan support for our nuclear security mission and for
the talented and dedicated workforce responsible for carrying it out
every day.
The Department meets its enduring national security mission by
maintaining and modernizing the nuclear weapons stockpile so that it is
always safe, secure, reliable, and effective; by reducing global
nuclear threats; and by providing the U.S. Navy's nuclear-powered
submarines and aircraft carriers with militarily effective propulsion
systems. NNSA remains uniquely qualified to fulfill these tasks on
behalf of the American people and in support of our allies and
partners.
The NNSA fiscal year 2023 budget request is informed by the 2022
Nuclear Posture Review and reflects today's increasingly complex
geopolitical environment. Importantly, the budget request provides full
support for the significant nuclear weapons design and production
required to modernize all three legs of the nuclear triad. Once
complete, this effort will provide the U.S. with a safer, more secure,
and more reliable stockpile that, together with the Department of
Defense (DoD) modernization programs, will provide the U.S. with a
modern nuclear deterrent capable of responding to a wider array of
challenges. The fiscal year 2023 budget request also includes continued
funding for the NNSA infrastructure revitalization program needed to
produce the weapons and materials for the planned program of record and
create an enterprise that is more resilient and flexible. Funding for
research, technology, and engineering needed for stockpile
certification and innovation activities is maintained in the request.
At the same time, the fiscal year 2023 budget request recognizes we
must press ahead with our nuclear nonproliferation and nuclear
counterterrorism and counterproliferation efforts as a complementary
approach to respond to geopolitical realities. These programs continue
efforts to implement and support robust security and safeguards for
nuclear materials; shift commercial, research, and medical industries
away from highly radioactive materials and technologies; and develop
technologies for early detection of proliferation activity. This
request recognizes the increased efforts required as nuclear power
expands around the world in response to climate change, and as Russia,
China, and North Korea continue to diversify and expand their nuclear
arsenals.
The NNSA budget request provides the support needed for Naval
Reactors to continue work designing, producing, operating, and
maintaining the nuclear propulsion plants for U.S. nuclear submarines
and aircraft carriers. The request also fully supports three critical
initiatives: the COLUMBIA-class ballistic missile submarine reactor
systems development; construction of the Naval Spent Fuel Handling
Facility; and the refueling and overhaul of the land-based reactor for
continued training and technology testing.
In today's multipolar and more aggressive geopolitical environment,
it is imperative that NNSA is both responsive to needs and acts
responsibly to avoid escalation or arms racing while preparing for an
uncertain future. Our budget request reflects this balance, and our
work has never been more critical to global stability.
nnsa's accomplishments in 2021
Last year, NNSA achieved several key milestones across the nuclear
security enterprise despite the unprecedented circumstances COVID-19
presented.
Life Extension and Weapons Modernization Programs: In 2021, NNSA
completed first production units (FPU) for the W88 Alteration (Alt) 370
and the B61-12 Life Extension programs. Both refurbished weapons have
increased safety and reliability.
Large Line-Item Construction: NNSA has three large line-item
construction projects for nuclear materials underway: two projects
associated with plutonium pit production--one at Los Alamos National
Laboratory and one at the Savannah River Site--and one project
associated with uranium processing at the Y-12 National Security
Complex.
The Los Alamos Plutonium Pit Production Project (LAP4) received
Critical Decision (CD)-1 approval in April 2021. The Savannah River
Plutonium Processing Facility (SRPPF) received CD-1 approval in June
2021. CD-1 approval marks completion of a project's definition phase
and the conceptual design as part of DOE's Order 413.3B process for the
acquisition of capital assets. Clearing the CD-1 process allows NNSA to
establish 90 percent design and associated cost estimation during the
subsequent CD-2 effort.
The Uranium Processing Facility (UPF), consisting of seven
subprojects, has completed three projects on schedule and under budget
and the final four are underway. During 2021, significant construction
activity continued and led to the successful full enclosure of all
buildings in April 2022, setting the stage for equipment installation.
National Ignition Facility (NIF): In August, the National Ignition
Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory achieved a
breakthrough with an experiment that yielded more than 1.3 megajoules
of energy and resulted in a burning plasma state for the first time in
any fusion research facility. Burning plasma research is needed for
high fidelity modeling of nuclear weapons and is one of the milestones
needed to achieve self-sustaining energy production.
Secure Transportation: The Office of Secure Transportation
accomplished 100 percent of its assigned missions safely and securely
with no mission degradation despite operational challenges present from
COVID-19.
Infrastructure Innovation: NNSA purchased the LeMond Carbon
Facility in Oak Ridge, TN to replace facilities at Y-12 built in the
1940s used for process development. Use of NNSA's purchase authority
for acquisitions allows us to accelerate delivery of modern facilities
without the need for new construction.
To support our climate goals, NNSA placed lease orders with the
General Services Administration to replace gas-powered cars with
approximately 50 zero-emissions vehicles, nearly doubling the size of
electric-powered cars in NNSA's fleet.
Nuclear Material Disposal and Reduction: NNSA converted an
additional 91 kilograms of plutonium to an oxide form, for a cumulative
total of 1,187 kilograms, in preparation for final disposition,
continued downblending excess plutonium, and completed construction of
a characterization and storage pad for the first shipment of
downblended plutonium from the Savannah River Site to the Waste
Isolation Pilot Plant. Additionally, the Secretaries of Energy and
Health and Humans Services jointly certified that global supplies of
molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) produced without the use of highly enriched
uranium (HEU) can meet the needs of patients in the U.S. This critical
milestone in nonproliferation efforts also triggered a congressionally
mandated ban on exports of HEU for foreign medical isotope production.
Global Material Security: NNSA conducted over 75 cyber engagements
with international partners to enhance security of nuclear facilities
and materials. Partnerships were also started with several domestic
advanced reactor vendors for `security-by-design' activities to enhance
the security of the systems for both domestic and international use.
NNSA replaced 50 devices (39 domestically and 11 internationally) that
use high-activity radioactive sources with non-radioisotopic
alternative technologies and secured 48 buildings (28 domestically and
20 internationally) with high priority radioactive sources. In
addition, since the start of 2021, NNSA has signed new counter
radioactive material smuggling arrangements with Estonia's Ministry of
Interior, Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ukraine's State
Security Service, Mexico's National Commission for Nuclear Security and
Safeguards, Niger's High Atomic Energy Authority, and Morocco's
Gendarmerie.
Counterterrorism: NNSA's Nuclear Emergency Support Team (NEST)
conducted dozens of operations, including preventative radiological/
nuclear detection support to the Presidential Inauguration,
Presidential Address to a Joint Session of Congress, New Year's Eve
celebrations in Las Vegas and New York City, Super Bowl LV, the Fourth
of July celebration on the National Mall, and the 76th Session of the
United Nations General Assembly. Additionally, NNSA conducted 50
virtual workshops with U.S. public information officers, law
enforcement, first responders, and technical experts concerning
radiological counterterrorism to build capacity and improve crisis and
risk communication.
Workforce Development: NNSA achieved its highest Federal workforce
level since 2013 with a total of 1,825 Federal employees onboard. To
help develop the next-generation workforce, NNSA awarded 13 Minority
Serving Institution Partnership Program grants for a total of 24
consortia grants to reach tens of thousands of students in STEM
disciplines.
nnsa's fiscal year 2023 budget request
The President's fiscal year 2023 budget request for NNSA is $21.4
billion, an increase of $1.0 billion, or 5.1 percent, over the fiscal
year 2022 enacted level. Funding levels do not reflect the mandated
transfer of $92.75 million in fiscal year 2022 to the Office of Nuclear
Energy for operation of the Advanced Test Reactor. This funding request
reflects the expanded mission in NNSA and the need for accelerated
delivery of the modernization and infrastructure programs. The three
NNSA missions--the nuclear deterrent, nuclear security and
nonproliferation, and naval nuclear propulsion--have key deliverables
in fiscal year 2023. In addition, the capabilities to position NNSA to
be successful in the future must be nurtured. We are grateful for the
sustained, bipartisan commitment by Congress and multiple
administrations and ask for continued support.
weapons activities appropriation
The fiscal year 2023 budget request for the Weapons Activities
account is $16.5 billion, an increase of $566 million, or 3.7 percent
over the fiscal year 2022 enacted levels. The request will be
supplemented with prior year balances of $396 million. This budget
request represents the Administration's continued strong commitment to
a safe, secure, reliable, and effective nuclear deterrent backed by
resilient, flexible infrastructure along with cutting edge science,
cyber security, and physical protection.
NNSA is fully aware that delivering the deterrent and capabilities
our nation needs to respond to the current environment requires a
faster pace and a more complete modernization of weapons than over the
last several decades. That is why we are re-establishing production
capabilities lost in the 1990s and overhauling both our physical
infrastructure and human capital to retain technical advantages and
build resilience into our enterprise. NNSA is looking forward to
overcoming obstacles and building on the successes of the previous
year.
The fiscal year 2023 request reflects the need to advance the
weapons modernization programs and production capacity at an
accelerated pace. The Weapons Activities account includes:
--Stockpile Management: Maintenance and modernization of nuclear
weapons and production operations to sustain confidence in the
safety, security, reliability, and military effectiveness of
the stockpile without resuming nuclear explosive testing and
associated activities.
--Production and Infrastructure Modernization: Investment in NNSA's
infrastructure to rebuild capabilities lost in the 1990s and
revitalize and expand the capacity of other elements to support
stockpile modernization and science. These projects range from
significant line-item construction for Plutonium and Uranium
related activities to minor construction of offices and light
labs to operational infrastructure such as electrical and
networking utilities.
--Stockpile Research, Technology, and Engineering: Continued
development of state-of-the-art scientific, engineering, and
manufacturing capabilities to enable continuous improvement in
design, certification, and production of the enduring nuclear
weapons stockpile and to stay ahead of the threat.
--Transportation, Nuclear, and Cyber Security: Keeping pace with
evolving threats and sustaining transportation, cyber and
physical security across the nuclear security enterprise to
improve resilience.
NNSA restructured the Weapons Activities budget in fiscal year 2021
to enable better alignment of portfolios with resources. This allowed
improved prioritization within portfolios that have multiple programs
and interdependencies. Further refinements are proposed in fiscal year
2023 to align programmatic construction with the portfolio each project
supports. Comparisons throughout the Weapons Activities portfolio
assume this alignment in the fiscal year 2022 enacted levels as well.
Stockpile Management
The fiscal year 2023 Stockpile Management budget request is $4.9
billion, an increase of $291 million, or 6.3 percent, over the fiscal
year 2022 enacted level. This portfolio covers the maintenance of a
safe, secure, reliable, and militarily effective nuclear weapons
stockpile. Activities include life extension programs (LEP) and other
weapons modernization activities; surveillance, minor alterations, and
limited life component exchanges; providing the safe dismantlement of
nuclear weapons and components; and providing sustainment of needed
manufacturing capabilities and capacities. The fiscal year 2023 request
also includes funding for Nuclear Enterprise Assurance (NEA) to
prevent, detect, and mitigate subversion risks to the nuclear weapons
stockpile and associated design, production, and testing capabilities.
W88 Alteration (Alt) 370: NNSA expects the W88 Alt 370 program to
enter Phase 6.6, Full-Scale Production, in July 2022. Production is
currently on schedule to meet DoD deployment schedules.
B61-12 LEP: NNSA expects the B61-12 LEP to enter Phase 6.6, Full-
Scale Production, in June 2022. The B61-12 LEP consolidates multiple
variants of the B61 gravity bomb and improves the safety and security
of the weapon. Production is currently on schedule to meet DoD
deployment schedules.
W80-4 LEP: NNSA is continuing Phase 6.3 activities, Development
Engineering, and plans to enter Phase 6.4, Production Engineering, in
fiscal year 2023. The W80-4 FPU date is currently being re-evaluated
due to COVID-19 impacts, slower than planned hiring and increased
attrition, and component technical challenges. The updated FPU schedule
will be developed by mid-2022. NNSA's revised schedule is expected to
support the U.S. Air Force's (USAF) schedule for Long Range Standoff
missile initial operating capability.
W87-1 Modification Program: The W87-1 will replace the aging W78
warhead using a modification of the existing W87-0 design. The W87-1
will deploy new technologies that improve safety and security, address
obsolete designs and materials, and simplify warhead manufacturability.
The fiscal year 2023 budget request supports NNSA's commitment for a
planned FPU in fiscal year 2030 to meet DoD's scheduled deployment of
the Sentinel missile. The request supports Phase 6.3, Development
Engineering, activities including joint testing with USAF Sentinel
missile and Mk21A reentry vehicle program and conducting the Conceptual
Design Review. NNSA plans to enter Phase 6.3 in fiscal year 2022.
W93/Mk7: In February 2022, the NWC voted to authorize the W93's
entry into Phase 2, Feasibility Study and Design Options. NNSA's fiscal
year 2023 funding request will support the Phase 2 activities including
further examination of design concepts from Phase 1, and down-selection
to desired weapon design(s) to be subsequently developed in Phase 2A,
Design Definition and Cost Study, planned for fiscal year 2026. All the
W93's key nuclear components will be based on currently deployed and
previously tested nuclear designs, as well as extensive stockpile
component and materials experience. It will not require additional
nuclear explosive testing to certify. The W93 is vital for continuing
our longstanding cooperation with the UK, which is modernizing its
nuclear forces. The U.S.'s W93 program is a separate but parallel
program critical to the UK's replacement warhead (RW) for its submarine
launched ballistic missile. As an allied but independent nuclear power
that contributes to NATO's nuclear deterrent posture, the UK's nuclear
deterrent is critical to U.S. national security.
Within Stockpile Management, the fiscal year 2023 budget request
includes $1.3 billion for Stockpile Sustainment, an increase of $141
million, or 11.9 percent above the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. This
program is responsible for producing and replacing limited-life
components such as neutron generators and gas transfer systems;
conducting maintenance, surveillance, and evaluations to assess weapon
reliability and detect any potential concerns; and analyzing
information compiled during the annual assessment process.
The request for Stockpile Management also includes $631 million for
Production Operations, an increase of $62 million, or 10.9 percent,
above the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. Included in this request is
funding to support continued growth of base capabilities, both in
staffing and equipment, required to support increased LEP workload as
certain programs reach full-scale production rates.
Production Modernization
The fiscal year 2023 Production Modernization budget request is
$4.64 billion, an increase of $484 million, or 11.6 percent, over the
fiscal year 2022 enacted level. This funding focuses on production
capabilities for nuclear weapons components including primaries, canned
subassemblies, radiation cases and non-nuclear components needed to
sustain the nuclear weapons stockpile near-to long-term.
Primary Capability Modernization: NNSA's most intensive
recapitalization effort is reconstitution of plutonium pit production
fabrication capabilities. NNSA is required to produce no fewer than 80
pits per year (ppy) during 2030. NNSA has outlined a two-site approach
for producing 80 ppy utilizing Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) to
produce 30 ppy and the Savannah River Site (SRS) to produce 50 ppy. The
two-site approach will provide the required capacity while enhancing
resiliency and flexibility. At this time, the production of 30 ppy at
LANL during 2026 remains on schedule with some technical challenges
remaining. However, the production of 50 ppy at SRS during 2030 is not
achievable. The Secretary of Energy and the Nuclear Weapons Council
have both notified Congress regarding the inability to produce 80 ppy
in 2030. However, NNSA remains committed to achieving 80 ppy as close
to 2030 as possible. The fiscal year 2023 budget request funds pit
production and associated efforts with a 26 percent increase compared
to fiscal year 2022. NNSA continues to work with DoD to develop a plan
to maintain the required stockpile until pit production capabilities
are fully established.
The fiscal year 2023 request for LANL Plutonium Modernization will
support equipment installation, continue decontamination and demolition
work, and mature project design for the LAP4. This includes adding
equipment in Plutonium Facility 4 (PF-4) to support 30 ppy in 2026,
construction of a training facility to support workforce development,
and construction of a higher capacity entrance control facility.
The fiscal year 2023 funds for SRPPF will be used to continue the
CD-2 work to establish a 90 percent design. CD-2 is forecast for
completion in early fiscal year 2024. Additionally, the request
supports early site preparation including removal of unnecessary walls
and building systems originally installed for the Mixed Oxide Fuel
Fabrication Facility.
Secondary Capability Modernization: NNSA is also modernizing its
uranium, lithium, and tritium processing efforts necessary to fabricate
nuclear weapon secondaries. NNSA's uranium strategy aims to relocate
enriched uranium processing capabilities into the UPF and other
enduring facilities to reduce mission dependency on Building 9212,
which is over 75 years old. This will be accomplished by completing
construction of UPF to provide new floor space for high hazard
operations; extending the operational lifetime of buildings 9215, 9204-
2E, and 9995 into the 2040s; introducing new processes to increase
safety and efficiency in the new facilities; and supplying the current
stockpile with purified enriched uranium metal.
UPF will provide for the long-term viability, safety, and security
of enriched uranium processing capability in the United States while
significantly improving worker and public safety. The construction is
well underway with a peak production workforce of 3,000 people in
fiscal years 2022 and 2023. Ongoing supply chain issues and delays
associated with the COVID-19 pandemic are projected to result in a
delay of about 8 months beyond the scheduled completion date of
December 2025. A comprehensive annual cost update is being conducted
for the UPF project completion to better understand factors that could
potentially affect total costs. Overall, UPF is 70 percent complete
with the first three non-nuclear infrastructure subprojects completed
under budget and on schedule.
Additionally, in fiscal year 2021, NNSA initiated the Depleted
Uranium (DU) Modernization Program to meet growing mission
requirements. This effort will reconstitute lapsed DU alloying and
component manufacturing capabilities at Y-12; invest in key new
technologies to improve efficiency and reduce lifecycle costs; and
increase the reliability and capacity. The DU Modernization Program
request for fiscal year 2023 is $170 million.
The U.S. no longer maintains a full lithium purification capability
and relies on direct recycling as the main source of lithium for
nuclear weapons systems. NNSA's Lithium Strategy will increase the
supply of lithium by recycling components from dismantled systems,
sustain and recapitalize existing infrastructure through a transition
period, and design and construct a Lithium Processing Facility (LPF) to
house processing capabilities by 2031. LPF will replace capabilities
performed in Y-12's buildings 9204-2 and 9202 and will include
recovery, purification, and component fabrication operations. While
current capabilities can provide a sufficient lithium supply through
2035, operations take place in an aging facility with significant
infrastructure challenges. LPF will alleviate those issues and reduce
risk while providing capacity to meet material demands beyond 2035.
The fiscal year 2023 budget request for the Tritium and Domestic
Uranium Enrichment is $580 million, an increase of $64 million, or 12.4
percent above the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. For Domestic Uranium
Enrichment the fiscal year 2023 budget request supports HEU down-
blending to extend the need date for low-enriched uranium (LEU) for
tritium production to 2044, enrichment technology development, and
acquisition activities to meet future enriched uranium needs. HEU
downblending began in fiscal year 2019 and will continue through fiscal
year 2025. NNSA is currently conducting an analysis of alternatives,
which is expected to conclude in the mid-2020s that will inform a final
down-select of an enrichment options. Other NNSA programs such as
reactor fuel and naval propulsion fuel are also supported by this
effort.
The Tritium Modernization Program's mission is to establish and
operate a domestic source of tritium to meet national security
requirements, which includes recycling tritium gas to maintain required
inventories and sustaining reliable supply chain infrastructure and
equipment. Since 2003, NNSA's tritium production has met all
production, delivery, and schedule requirements. Because NNSA is
currently ramping up production levels at the Tennessee Valley
Authority to meet future delivery requirements, the requested budget
has been increased. NNSA is also in the early phases of constructing
the Tritium Finishing Facility (TFF), which will replace a 1950s-era
facility. TFF will house the finishing, packing, and shipping of gas
reservoirs to meet mission requirements. This major infrastructure
modernization initiative will fulfill a critical mission need and
enable the program to meet contemporary safety standards. The facility
will house functions to receive, inspect, finish, package, and ship
reservoirs. Construction of the site preparation subproject is
scheduled to start in fiscal year 2024.
Non-Nuclear Component Modernization: Non-nuclear components (NNCs)
include a wide array of parts that weaponize the nuclear explosive
package. Examples are gas transfer systems, neutron generators,
microelectronics, and power sources. NNCs make up more than half the
cost of weapon modernization due to the number, complexity, and their
qualification in extreme environments over the warhead lifecycle.
Therefore, delivering NNCs requires an extensive foundation of
capabilities for the design, development, qualification, production,
and surveillance of these components. The fiscal year 2023 request
includes funding to provide equipment for increased manufacturing
capacity at the Kansas City National Security Campus; reconstitute
thermal spray capability for weapon modernization; recapitalize
radiation and major environmental test facilities at Sandia National
Laboratories used to design and qualify NNCs; and tools and equipment
at the Microsystems Engineering, Science and Applications (MESA)
Complex at Sandia, which serves as the only approved source of trusted,
strategically radiation hardened microelectronics.
Infrastructure and Operations
NNSA has been taking significant steps to modernize and
recapitalize its infrastructure to meet expanding demands, reduce
mission and safety risk, and draw down its deferred maintenance
backlog. A well-organized, well-maintained, and modern infrastructure
system is the bedrock of a flexible and resilient nuclear enterprise.
Almost 60 percent of NNSA facilities were beyond their 40-year life
expectancy at the end of fiscal year 2021 with some dating back to the
Manhattan Project. Our modernization and recapitalization efforts will
provide for the safety of our workforce, the communities around our
facilities, and our environment. NNSA can address this challenge only
with sustained, predictable, and timely funding.
The fiscal year 2023 budget request for Infrastructure and
Operations is $2.63 billion, an increase of $144 million or 5.8 percent
over the fiscal year 2022 enacted amount. This increase will enable
NNSA to build on the Infrastructure Modernization Initiative, including
adopting new practices that will streamline construction practices to
save time and money on low-risk, non-nuclear, construction projects.
Deferred maintenance has been a key focus of both NNSA and
Congress. At the end of fiscal year 2021, NNSA had $6.1 billion of
deferred maintenance and an enterprise-wide replacement plant value of
$121.5 billion. While this ratio may seem high, construction of new
facilities and associated demolition of legacy facilities will have a
substantial role in reducing NNSA infrastructure challenges.
Approximately 90 percent of NNSA deferred maintenance is associated
with facilities that are approaching or have surpassed their intended
design life. NNSA is integrating its infrastructure modernization work
with the Department's Office of Environmental Management supported
effort to demolish high-risk excess facilities at the Y-12 National
Security Complex, Lawrence Livermore National Lab, and Los Alamos
National Lab. NNSA is using this intentional approach to prioritize
investments based on mission risk while underscoring the need for
sustained commitment to move beyond legacy infrastructure. The fiscal
year 2023 budget request includes increases in Mission Enabling
Construction accounts so that NNSA can address mission needs, achieve
operational efficiencies, and reduce risks to safety, security, the
environment, and program.
For years, NNSA has used a prioritization methodology for
recapitalization investments that factors in sustainability and
resilience along with safety and mission risk. In fiscal year 2023,
NNSA is increasing its emphasis on climate resiliency projects through
the Energy Resilient Infrastructure and Climate Adaptation (ERICA)
initiative. ERICA is part of NNSA's multifaceted approach to address
climate adaptation and resilience using direct- and indirect-funded
infrastructure programs and alternative financing. For example, the
planned Building 848 Net Zero Energy Upgrade project at Sandia will
move the facility to being 100 percent powered by on-site generated
electricity while also improving its operations, indoor air quality,
and thermal comfort.
NNSA uses data-driven, risk informed tools and initiatives to
improve decisionmaking, accelerate the delivery, and reduce the cost of
commercial-like construction projects. For example, in fiscal year 2019
NNSA established the Enhanced Minor Construction & Commercial Standards
(EMC2) pilot, which is challenging the paradigm for how NNSA executes
low-risk, non-complex construction projects to accelerate delivery and
reduce costs. There are 10 projects in the pilot, including the
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's Emergency Operations Center
(EOC) which is the first pilot project to be completed earlier this
year. Using the EMC2 approach, the Livermore EOC was completed 13
months after receiving full construction funding in January 2021. In
the first four pilot projects currently underway, estimated cost
savings range from approximately 12 to 31 percent. An additional six
EMC2 projects are projected to result in estimated cost savings of 17
to 38 percent.
Stockpile Research, Technology and Engineering
For Stockpile Research, Technology, and Engineering, the fiscal
year 2023 budget request is $2.89 billion, a decrease of $83 million,
or 2.8 percent below the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. The decrease
results from the use of carryover balances to continue construction of
the U1a Complex Enhancement Project at the Nevada National Security
Site (NNSS). After adjusting for this reduction, the Stockpile
Research, Technology, and Engineering request is stable from fiscal
year 2022 enacted.
This portfolio provides the scientific foundation for science-based
stockpile activities, including the capabilities, tools, and components
needed to assess the active stockpile and to certify warhead
modernization programs without the need for underground nuclear
testing. NNSA's unparalleled science and technical capabilities, and
commitment to their constant improvement, helps cultivate the knowledge
and expertise to maintain confidence in the stockpile. The major
activities in the Stockpile Research, Technology, and Engineering
portfolio are:
Enhanced Capabilities for Subcritical Experiments (ECSE): ECSE will
produce experimental data in underground tunnels at the NNSS that will
enable high fidelity assessment of the current stockpile and
certification of the future stockpile without the need to return to
underground nuclear-explosive testing. ECSE experiments are designed to
remain subcritical throughout the experiment to adhere to the U.S.
policy of ``zero yield.''
Stockpile Responsiveness Program (SRP): SRP is responsible for
exercising and enhancing capabilities across the entire nuclear weapons
development and production process to improve the responsiveness of the
United States to future threats, technology trends, and international
developments not addressed by existing life extension programs. For
example, SRP is investing in efforts to address issues in design for
manufacturability, digital engineering, component, and system
prototyping and testing.
Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) Program: The ICF Program supports
the assessment and certification of the nuclear weapon stockpile by
providing the facilities, scientific expertise, and experimental
capability necessary to acquire data at the extreme conditions of
nuclear weapon operation. The ICF program also supports research on
thermonuclear fusion with the goal of reaching fusion ignition and
eventually high fusion yield in the laboratory. The fiscal year 2023
request supports ICF research and facilities, enabling access to
experimental data that underpin the safety, security, and effectiveness
of the nuclear stockpile and continued progress toward the capabilities
necessary to meet long-term stewardship needs.
NNSA Exascale Computing Initiative: The Exascale Computing
Initiative (ECI) will provide NNSA with next-generation simulation
capabilities to support weapons design, science-based stockpile
stewardship, and stockpile certification activities. The fiscal year
2023 budget request will continue funding maturation of next-generation
simulation and computing technologies and enables NNSA to meet its
exascale system initial operation capability in fiscal year 2023,
including transition of the next-generation, validated weapons codes to
next-generation classified computing.
Academic Programs: The challenges of sustaining the nuclear
deterrent long-term demand a strong and diverse base of national
expertise and educational opportunities in specialized technical areas
that uniquely contribute to stockpile stewardship. NNSA's Academic
Programs are designed to cultivate, attract, and retain such a
workforce. Funding in this area supports the Administration's Executive
Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved
Communities through the Federal Government, Academic Alliances and
existing partnerships with Minority Serving Institutions, and an
increase in student engagement and internship opportunities.
Secure Transportation Asset
Secure Transportation Asset (STA) supports the safe, secure
transport of the Nation's nuclear weapons, weapon components, and
special nuclear material throughout the nuclear security enterprise to
meet nuclear security requirements. Nuclear weapon life extension
programs, limited-life component exchanges, surveillance,
dismantlement, nonproliferation activities, and experimental programs
rely on STA to ensure safe, secure, and on-schedule transport. The
fiscal year 2023 budget request for STA is $344 million, an increase of
$13.7 million, or 4.1 percent, above the fiscal year 2022 enacted
amount to increase the Federal Agent workforce to a level necessary to
keep pace with the growing program deliverables.
The Office of Secure Transportation's (OST) priorities for fiscal
year 2023 include modernization and sustainment of transportation
assets. This includes the Safeguards Transporter (SGT) life extension
program to secure its service until replacement by the Mobile Guardian
Transporter (MGT), as well as the entry into service of procured 737-
700 aircraft. The first MGT Production Unit is planned for completion
in fiscal year 2026 and initial rate production is set to commence in
fiscal year 2027. Currently, aircraft are undergoing heavy maintenance
checks, painting to NNSA standards, and a major modification from a
passenger jet to a FlexCombi that is configurable to carry various
loads of personnel and cargo.
OST also remains focused on recruiting, stabilizing, training, and
retaining the Federal Agent and staff workforce necessary to support
mission requirements. OST has committed to a stable human resources
strategy to achieve an optimal agent force. OST has increased staffing
numbers by optimizing position qualifications and managing risk
associated with the Human Reliability Program. Although COVID-19
impacted key milestones and deliverables, OST successfully accomplished
every assigned mission for the previous year.
Defense Nuclear Security
Defense Nuclear Security's fiscal year 2023 budget request is
$882.3 million, an increase of $38.2 million, or 4.5 percent over the
fiscal year 2022 enacted level. The Office of Defense Nuclear
Security's (DNS) primary mission is protecting the facilities, people,
and assets critical to achieving NNSA's important national security
missions. The need for increasing security due to growth across
enterprise from projects such as LAP4 and UPF, along with additional
resources required to sustain core security, has resulted in increased
program requirements for DNS. Support for the request is vital for the
protection of the enterprise, its people, and its sensitive material
and information. DNS remains focused on improving physical security
infrastructure with several new projects and the development and
deployment of new systems. Progress is also being made in countering
unmanned aircraft systems. The first such platform was deployed at LANL
in December 2017. Deployment at other facilities is expected to be
completed in late fiscal year 2022.
Cybersecurity and Emerging Issues
The fiscal year 2023 budget request for information technology and
cybersecurity is $445.7 million, $39.1 million, or 9.6 percent, over
the fiscal year 2022 enacted amount. This request funds ongoing
operations and invests in improvements across NNSA to modernize both
classified and unclassified systems, improves information management
and data governance, implements critical aspects of a zero-trust
architecture in our networks and systems, and allows for the execution
of a robust cybersecurity program. As an example, NNSA recently
recapitalized its deployed cyber sensor platform, significantly
improving the ability to detect and respond to malicious activity.
Maintaining a strong cybersecurity program is a critical defense
mechanism and a powerful deterrence tool. To strengthen oversight of
the cyber program, the budget request includes a recategorization of
certain Cybersecurity program investments into the Information
Technology program. As a result, the request more clearly reflects
investments in cybersecurity tools and services provided to the
enterprise, maintains core cyber operations at the labs, plants, and
sites, and improves management and transparency of these funds.
NNSA also recently completed an enterprise-wide cybersecurity
assessment, in conjunction with the Institute for Defense Analyses,
aimed at evaluating the overall cybersecurity posture and developing a
set of recommendations to improve the program. That review calls for
increased investment in information technology and cyber infrastructure
to better meet current and emerging challenges, as well as outlines
strategies related to workforce development issues. NNSA has already
started acting on the findings and will continue to do so with the
fiscal year 2023 requested budget.
defense nuclear nonproliferation appropriation
The fiscal year 2023 budget request for the Defense Nuclear
Nonproliferation account is $2.3 billion, an increase of $274 million,
or 13.2 percent, over the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. When the use
of prior year balances is considered, the proposed funding level for
the account increases by $397 million, or 19.2 percent. The use of
prior year balances will allow DNN programs to supplement new budget
authority across its programs.
This account funds all activities in the offices of Defense Nuclear
Nonproliferation, Emergency Operations, and Counterterrorism and
Counterproliferation. Within these offices, this appropriation funds
six nonproliferation programs, a counterterrorism and
counterproliferation program, and an incident response program as part
of a whole-of-government approach. Together these efforts provide
policy and technical leadership to prevent or limit the spread of
weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and the related materials,
technology, and expertise as well as to detect and respond to nuclear
terrorism or proliferation events.
Nonproliferation Efforts
For decades, Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation (DNN) has developed
and implemented policy and technical solutions to eliminate
proliferation sensitive material and limit or prevent the spread of
materials, technology, and expertise necessary for nuclear and
radiological weapons. By working with governments, international
organizations, and private sector partners around the world these
efforts reduce the reliance on radioactive material in commercial and
research industries; better secure nuclear and radioactive material;
develop capabilities to interdict material outside of regulatory
control; and maintain a robust response capability for nuclear and
radiological incidents at home and abroad.
The fiscal year 2023 budget request will allow the Office of
Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation to better confront current and
anticipated proliferation challenges including the growing nuclear
programs and strategic competition with Russia and China, the impacts
of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, risks related to the North
Korean and Iranian nuclear programs, and disruptive technologies that
lower the barrier to proliferation. Through these efforts DNN aims to
restore American leadership in nonproliferation solutions and cutting-
edge technology required to address future threats.
The Material Management and Minimization (M3) program fiscal year
2023 budget request is $451 million, an increase of $108 million, or
31.5 percent, over the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. M3 programs
reduce and, when possible, eliminate weapons-usable nuclear material
around the world. The fiscal year 2023 budget request supports the
conversion or shutdown of research reactors and isotope production
facilities that use HEU, the use of non-HEU-based Mo-99 production, the
removal and disposal of weapons-usable nuclear material, and the
removal of plutonium from the State of South Carolina. Additionally, to
date, nearly 7,270 kilograms of weapons-usable nuclear material from 48
countries and Taiwan have been removed or confirmed disposed, while 108
civilian research reactors and isotope production facilities have
stopped using weapons-grade material in their work.
The Global Material Security program fiscal year 2023 budget
request is $504 million, a decrease of $27.4 million, or 5.1 percent,
below the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. The fiscal year 2023 request
supports program efforts to prevent terrorists and other actors from
obtaining nuclear and radioactive material for use in an improvised
nuclear device by working with domestic and global partners. This
includes improving the security of vulnerable materials and sites,
promoting the adoption of alternative technologies that do not rely on
radioactive sources, and increasing capacity to detect, disrupt and
interdict illicit trafficking operations. Working through the RadSecure
100 Initiative, NNSA will accelerate and expand permanent risk
reduction, security enhancements, and response integration with local
law enforcement in the top 100 major metropolitan areas of the United
States. To date, NNSA has replaced approximately 130 cesium-137 based
blood irradiators with alternative technologies. The program remains on
track to replace nearly all the estimated 400 such devices in the
United States by 2027 as mandated in the fiscal year 2019 NDAA. In
addition, NNSA is partnering with domestic advanced nuclear reactor
vendors in `security-by-design' activities to enhance the security of
their systems for domestic and international use. Finally, NNSA
continues to build additional partnerships with bilateral and
multilateral partners focused on counter nuclear smuggling. To date,
NNSA partners with 84 countries in this area and continues to expand
cooperation with existing and new partners to expand global counter
nuclear smuggling capabilities.
The Nonproliferation and Arms Control (NPAC) program fiscal year
2023 budget request is $208 million, an increase of $23 million, or
12.4 percent, above the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. The increased
funding request supports two increasingly important activities: (1)
policy and technology development activities for peaceful uses of
nuclear energy along with support for the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA), and (2) policy and technology development for potential
arms control agreements that extend to new types of strategic weapons
as well as tactical nuclear weapons.
By focusing on ensuring the peaceful use of nuclear energy, NPAC
programs strengthen nonproliferation regimes through the development
and implementation of effective technologies and policies. This is
especially important as nuclear energy programs expand internationally
in response to clean energy implementation to address climate change.
New nuclear safeguards and monitoring and verification technologies are
needed to secure materials and to detect proliferation activities
early. NPAC works to mature technologies and transfer them to the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and partner countries to
implement. The U.S. also supplies IAEA with U.S. subject matter
experts, training, and equipment advice and procurement aid. In fiscal
year 2022 and fiscal year 2023 NPAC is helping establish the
nonproliferation enrichment testing and training platform. This
platform will be turned over to the IAEA for commissioning and
operation in fiscal year 2024. On the policy side, NPAC supports the
development and implementation of Section 123 agreements and the
careful regulation of nuclear technology exports utilizing Part 810
Authorizations.
Approximately $30 million funds increasing nuclear weapons
verification activities. This will improve U.S. technical policy and
readiness for future arms control agreements and associated
verification technology. New investment in the Arms Control Advancement
Initiative will strengthen NNSA's capacity to address future nuclear
warhead monitoring and verification requirements through advanced
technology development, robust modeling and measurements, and sustained
expert engagement to maintain a pipeline of experts to helps advance
arms control objectives over time.
The Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Development (DNN
R&D) program fiscal year 2023 budget request is $720 million, a
decrease of $9 million, or 1.2 percent, below the fiscal year 2022
enacted level. DNN R&D is the key component for the innovation of
United States' technical capabilities to detect nuclear detonations;
foreign nuclear weapons programs' activities; and the presence,
movement, or diversion of special nuclear materials. The program also
sustains and develops foundational nonproliferation technical
competencies that ensure the technical agility needed to support a
broad spectrum of U.S. nonproliferation missions and anticipate
threats. Consistent with the growing nonproliferation challenges, this
funding request for DNN R&D programs will expand activities that
advance the development of next-generation nuclear arms control
monitoring and verification technology and expertise symbiotic with the
NPAC efforts.
The Nonproliferation Construction program fiscal year 2023 budget
request is $72 million, a decrease of $84 million, or 54 percent, below
the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. This decrease is due to the
awarding of the long-lead procurement contracts for gloveboxes,
emergency generators and HEPA filters under CD-3A Phase 2 in fiscal
year 2022 and the expected fiscal year 2023 completion of design work
for the Surplus Plutonium Disposition (SPD) project required for CD-2/
3, Approval of Performance Baseline and Start of Construction. The
fiscal year 2023 budget request supports the implementation of the
dilute and dispose strategy, by continuing design for the SPD project.
The SPD project will add additional glovebox capacity at the SRS to
accelerate plutonium dilution and aid in the removal of plutonium from
South Carolina.
NNSA is requesting the establishment of a Bioassurance Program in
fiscal year 2023. The budget request is $20 million. As the COVID-19
pandemic has shown, the United States needs better capabilities to
anticipate, respond to, and mitigate threats to the bioeconomy. NNSA
proposes to establish a national security bioassurance program to
perform activities to anticipate and detect threats and scale response
solutions to support the security of the future bioeconomy and monitor
and thwart malpractice in this area. This funding supports foundational
work at DOE/NNSA laboratories including the anticipation of
destabilizing threats through modeling, identifying threat signatures
and developing detection technologies, and rapidly developing and
validating safeguards and threat mitigation approaches. NNSA will
integrate its high-security work with the Department's Office of
Science supported ``open'' science work and other government agencies,
providing the full spectrum of capabilities essential for a
bioassurance program informed by national security expertise drawn from
parallel and analogous work on nuclear threats, risks, export controls
and licensing, nonproliferation, detection, and verification.
Nuclear Counterterrorism and Incident Response
The fiscal year 2023 request for the Nuclear Counterterrorism and
Incident Response (NCTIR) program is $439 million, an increase of $68
million, or 18.4 percent, over the fiscal year 2022 enacted amount. The
NCTIR program supports two subprograms: Counterterrorism and
Counterproliferation (CTCP) and Emergency Operations (EO).
CTCP is responsible for countering nuclear terrorism and nuclear
proliferation, responding to nuclear incidents and accidents worldwide,
advancing nuclear forensic capabilities, and building domestic and
international partner capacity concerning emergency preparedness and
response. CTCP's unique scientific and operational capabilities make it
an integral part of the U.S. Government's layered defense against
nuclear terrorism and nuclear proliferation.
CTCP manages the NEST, NNSA's multi-mission emergency response
capability comprised of on-call technical specialists who are trained
and equipped to respond to nuclear incidents and accidents worldwide.
NEST's missions include both national security and public health and
safety disciplines.
NNSA, in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI), supports regional counter-WMD teams in 14 major U.S. cities as
part of the ``Capability Forward'' initiative. CTCP provides
technology, equipment, and training in support of these teams to
enhance regional capabilities to defeat nuclear and radiological
devices, accelerating life-saving responses to a WMD event.
The fiscal year 2023 budget request addresses critical shortfalls
in CTCP's capabilities to execute DOE's Primary Mission Essential
Function (PMEF)-2, Respond to Nuclear Incidents. In coordination with
interagency efforts to identify and address WMD response gaps,
increased funding addresses staffing needs, ensures operational
integration and full-spectrum training and exercises in accordance with
interagency objectives, and supports technology development and
infrastructure requirements.
Additional programmatic funding will also invest in new incident
response expertise and technology; continue NEST equipment
recapitalization efforts with planned procurement for replacement of
diagnostic equipment and detection systems required for the public
health and safety, counter-WMD, and nuclear weapon accident response
mission areas; and bolster CTCP efforts to counter nuclear
proliferation through applied analysis, concept development, predictive
modeling, and testing.
CTCP also contributes to the interagency National Technical Nuclear
Forensics mission, a central pillar of the U.S. strategy to deter
hostile States from providing nuclear material to terrorists. CTCP's
fiscal year 2023 budget request includes $43 million for this effort,
including training and exercises for responders; procurement,
maintenance, logistics, and technical integration of equipment;
readiness to deploy pre- and post-detonation response and device
assessment teams; and laboratory analysis of nuclear or radiological
material.
EO provides both the structure and processes to ensure a
comprehensive and integrated approach to all-hazards emergency
management, thus improving readiness and effectiveness of the DOE
Emergency Management System on a programmatic and performance level
regardless of the nature of the emergency impacting the DOE/NNSA
enterprise or its equities anywhere in the world. The fiscal year 2023
budget request supports Continuity of Operations, Continuity of
Government, and Enduring Constitutional Government programs to advance
the National Continuity Policy and ensure the continued performance and
delivery of essential services under any circumstances. The fiscal year
2023 budget request also provides for 24/7/365 Consolidated Emergency
Operations Center communications and coordination support to the DOE/
NNSA Emergency Management Enterprise and Departmental Senior
Leadership. The request also includes funding for investments in
communications equipment and classified communications system
improvements to support emergency operations and continuity
infrastructure improvements.
naval reactors appropriation
Advancing Naval Nuclear Propulsion
With over 40 percent of the Navy's major combatants being nuclear-
powered, this technology remains critical to our national security
posture. It provides the nation's submarines and aircraft carriers with
unmatched mobility, flexibility, responsiveness, and endurance. The
ability to maintain robust fleet capabilities on long-term missions is
essential for the security of global trade and the security of our
allies. The Office of Naval Reactors is the foundation of this national
achievement in global security. Cutting edge advancements across all
aspects of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, from reactor plant
development and design to the disposition of spent fuel, gives the U.S.
Navy a decisive edge in naval warfare and enhances the security and
reliability of the sea-leg of our nuclear triad.
The fiscal year 2023 budget request for Naval Reactors is $2.08
billion, an increase of $163 million, or 8.5 percent, above the fiscal
year 2022 enacted level. The funding does not reflect the mandated
transfer of $92.75 million in fiscal year 2022 to the Office of Nuclear
Energy for operation of the Advanced Test Reactor. The budget request
supports the continued safe and reliable operation of the nuclear-
powered fleet, and it supports investment in technology development to
deliver improvements in propulsion plant performance,
manufacturability, and affordability--for current and future warships.
Funding also supports requirements for the office's three major
projects: COLUMBIA-class ballistic missile submarine reactor systems
development; construction of the Naval Spent Fuel Handling Facility in
Idaho; and the refueling and overhaul of the S8G Prototype land-based
reactor in New York for continued sailor training and technology
testing.
Consistent, sustained funding is vital for the support of these
projects and will allow Naval Reactors to meet current and future force
needs. Close coordination with the Navy led to the start of
construction of the COLUMBIA-class lead ship in fiscal year 2021. The
S8G Refueling Overhaul is expected to reach completion in fiscal year
2023. The Spent Fuel Handling Recapitalization project at the Naval
Reactors Facility in Idaho is making significant progress with an
estimated completion in fiscal year 2026.
AUKUS
On September 15, 2021, Australia, the UK, and the U.S. announced
the creation of an enhanced trilateral security partnership (AUKUS),
focused on peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region. The three
governments are currently 6 months into an 18-month consultation period
to establish the most efficient path forward for the delivery of a
nuclear-powered, conventional, submarine capability to Australia as
expeditiously as possible. As part of the international working group
developing nonproliferation and safeguards aspects of the AUKUS
program, NNSA will provide technical advice to the interagency and our
AUKUS partners on the full suite of requirements that underpin nuclear
stewardship to implement strong safeguards measures and achieve the
AUKUS objectives.
This cooperation is fully consistent with our obligations under the
Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). The NPT does not prohibit naval
nuclear propulsion. In our role in this trilateral partnership, we
intend to implement the strongest possible nonproliferation standards
to maintain the strength and integrity of the nuclear nonproliferation
regime. Australia is not seeking, and the U.S. and UK are not and will
not assist in any acquisition of nuclear weapons. Additionally,
Australia has committed not to enrich uranium or reprocess spent fuel
in the context of AUKUS.
federal salaries and expenses appropriation
The fiscal year 2023 budget request for Federal Salaries and
Expenses (FSE) is $496 million, an increase of $32 million, or 7
percent, above the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. The increase in this
account will support an additional 132 Federal Full-time Equivalents
(FTE) above the fiscal year 2022 enacted level, bringing the total to
1,958. FSE increases will also support increased space and occupancy
needs, travel costs, support service contractors, training, and other
related expenses.
The NNSA Federal workforce is critical to the success of the
Nation's nuclear security enterprise. NNSA's expanding mission
requirements and pressing modernization and recapitalization needs
require recruiting, training, and retaining a skilled Federal workforce
with the appropriate capabilities to meet mission requirements and
deliver on our objectives. This workforce represents some of the top
minds on nuclear issues, consisting of a diverse team of scientists,
engineers, project and program managers, foreign affairs specialists,
and support staff that perform program and project management and
conduct appropriate oversight of national security missions. NNSA's
Federal workforce is distributed across the enterprise and can be found
in eight States and Washington, DC.
NNSA currently faces two significant hurdles in achieving full
staffing: retirement and private sector competition. As of fiscal year
2021 17.3 percent of NNSA FTE Federal staff are eligible to retire, a
number that is expected to rise to 35.4 percent by fiscal year 2027.
Additionally, in fiscal year 2021 the annual FSE attrition rate was
10.7 percent, higher than the average attrition rate of 8.9 percent
over the past 13 years. NNSA also faces competition from the private
sector for top talent in technical fields.
Combating these trends requires an aggressive, external hiring
strategy. NNSA has utilized a renewed focus on virtual recruitment
events that support hiring across the nuclear security enterprise in
support of all program areas. In October 2021, NNSA initiated a pilot
program for expedited hiring within 15 business days, from the time the
program office selected a candidate to the time Human Resources
provided an entry on duty date. NNSA is applying lessons learned from
this pilot program to continue progress on a streamlined hiring effort.
Finally, NNSA has expanded the effort to enlarge fellowship program
candidate pools and employ available alternative hiring authorities to
compress the hiring timeline for qualified candidates and increase the
overall hiring rate.
NNSA's recruitment and hiring efforts will support mission and
growth requirements and will continue to support the Administration's
goals of promoting racial and economic equity as a way to foster
scientific breakthroughs, research and development excellence, and
enhanced national security.
conclusion
NNSA's enduring responsibility is providing the United States with
a nuclear weapons stockpile and naval nuclear propulsion systems that
are the best in the world while simultaneously promoting
nonproliferation and counterterrorism efforts to reduce overall nuclear
risk. The President's fiscal year 2023 budget, informed by the 2022
Nuclear Posture Review, supports our efforts to keep the nuclear
deterrent and naval nuclear propulsion systems safe, secure, reliable,
and militarily effective. Recognizing the increasingly volatile
geopolitical environment, NNSA must also stay resolute in sustaining
and evolving our nuclear security, non-proliferation, and
counterterrorism efforts to help offset and stay ahead of nuclear
risks.
NNSA has a unique responsibility to provide an effective nuclear
deterrent in a timely manner to protect our Nation and our allies. The
fiscal year 2023 budget request funds the five life extension and
modernization programs that support all three legs of the triad. In
fiscal year 2023 the requested budget also supports significant
investments in new production facilities for uranium processing and
plutonium pit manufacturing at the fastest responsible pace. The budget
request contains close to equal funding for stockpile management and
production modernization, a true indication of the intent to accelerate
activities by working on weapon design and production in parallel with
infrastructure revitalization. The science and engineering support for
the weapons program stays strong to allow for the continued development
of capabilities to design and certify the stockpile without testing and
to stay ahead of threats.
The Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation budget request sustains our
efforts to reduce nuclear risk by eliminating, minimizing, and securing
nuclear and radiological materials. In addition, the DNN portfolio
request recognizes the changing world by increasing support for policy
and technology development aimed at the increased proliferation risks
associated with the increase in nuclear energy around the world,
preparing for an increasingly complex arms control and global stability
environment, and by initiating a bioassurance program. Similarly, the
increased budget request for the counterterrorism and
counterproliferation program is responsive to the changing threat
environment.
The Naval Reactors budget request recognizes the excellent
stewardship provided over the years and continues to support the high
priority needs to replace aging tools, build a new spent fuel handling
facility, and support the COLUMBIA-class production schedule.
The challenges NNSA faces ahead are steep and we are mindful of the
resources entrusted to it. For fiscal year 2023, NNSA scrubbed prior
year balances and used available funds to offset some of the increased
budget needs. NNSA, in partnership with Congress and our colleagues in
the Departments of Energy and Defense, is steadfast in our commitment
to fulfill vital national security mission and deliver our goals. We
greatly appreciate your support.
Prepared Statement of Admiral James F. Caldwell
Chairman Feinstein, Ranking Member Kennedy, and distinguished
members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to appear
before you today and present the President's fiscal year 2023 budget
for Naval Reactors. Your strong support for the work we do ensures our
nuclear Navy can carry out vital missions around the world with
agility, endurance, and firepower. As underscored by the unprecedented
events currently playing out on the world stage, great power
competition is here to stay, therefore it is vital for the United
States that we maintain a robust naval advantage over our adversaries.
Congress' support of our past efforts has allowed the Navy to maintain
these advantages, and your partnership with the Navy is needed now,
more than ever, as we work on the current and future endeavors in naval
nuclear propulsion that are needed to protect the national security of
the United States.
I have had the pleasure of serving as the Director of Naval
Reactors for almost 7 years out of an eight-year tenure. Before that, I
had the privilege of serving in many operational and staff roles
throughout the course of my Navy career. As I reflect on these decades
of service and our Navy's global standing, I am increasingly concerned
that our competitive advantages over our near-peer rivals are
diminishing. It is vitally important for us to focus on technology
investment now; failure to do so could have catastrophic implications
for our future Navy in a future fight. Rivals are pursuing military
modernization programs aimed at achieving regional hegemony in the
near-term and eroding United States preeminence in the long-term. All
domains of the maritime environment are becoming increasingly
contested, and to preserve freedom of the seas, deter conflict, defend
allies, and protect our national interests, we must sustain and grow
our naval warfighting capabilities at an accelerated pace.
As amplified in our latest National Defense Strategy, we cannot
simply do more of what we've done in the past. New advancements and
refinements in nuclear propulsion are needed as the Navy innovates to
increase and expand our competitive advantage. Naval Reactors'
historical investment in advanced technologies has given the nation an
enviable position in the maritime environment; further investments,
however, are necessary to maintain our technological edge well into the
future. Our ships need to retain their advantage against future threats
across multiple domains and must be affordable. We also need to be able
to design and build our propulsion plants faster to ensure the Navy
stays ahead of increasing demands, and we must do this more cost
effectively. As the CNO has conveyed in his Navigation Plan, ``there is
no time to waste--our actions in this decade will set the maritime
balance of power for the rest of the century.'' Our nation took a new
step this past year when the President announced the AUKUS enhanced
tri-lateral security partnership, directing a period of consultation
with the objective of identifying the optimal pathway for delivering a
conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability to Australia
by the earliest achievable date. This partnership creates an
opportunity to amplify our naval power, strengthen a key ally and our
own shipbuilding capability, and build the additional industrial and
vendor base capacity our Nation needs. Through the consultation period,
Naval Reactors is also focused on strengthening our partnership with
the United Kingdom, and ensuring Australia understands and establishes
the strong foundation of capabilities necessary to properly steward
nuclear submarine technology. Given the global threats we face, it is
imperative that we ensure our closest allies remain relevant in the
undersea domain.
Our success in the future will rest on the foundation of what we
build today. Therefore, I want to highlight some of the many
contributions of our nuclear fleet. Our ballistic missile submarines
provide the most survivable leg of our nuclear triad and are essential
to our ability to deter major warfare, and provide assurance to our
allies. Our fast attack submarines operate with confidence, undetected,
safeguarding vital commercial sea-lanes, and stand ready to protect
American interests where needed. Our aircraft carriers provide our
nation a credible, sustained ability to project combat power, deter
conflict, and protect our interests around the world.
Lead ship construction for COLUMBIA Class is underway, which will
allow the Navy to continue the seamless execution of the sea-based
strategic deterrent mission that began over six decades ago. The USS
OHIO (SSBN 726), lead ship of today's ballistic missile submarine fleet
was commissioned over 40 years ago. This class will start to be
replaced by the COLUMBIA Class in 2031 with lead boat delivery in
fiscal year 2028. I remain focused on ensuring the transition between
these two classes is uninterrupted--the sea based strategic deterrence
mission is too important to fail. The COLUMBIA Class will be a bedrock
of our national security posture for decades to come and will be the
first submarine to operate for over 40 years on a single reactor core,
an incredible testimonial to the technology investment that has
occurred over the past decades.
In attack submarine shipbuilding, the Navy continues to work toward
a steady cadence of VIRGINIA Class submarine delivery. I recently took
part in sea trials on Pre-Commissioning Units (PCU) MONTANA and OREGON.
This submarine class now makes up over one third of our operational
attack submarines. The Navy is also assessing improvements to
capability and lethality for future VIRGINIA Class submarines; these
improvements will not only add capability to today's fleet but allow
the Navy to prove candidate technologies that will influence our next-
generation attack submarine. Naval Reactors is closely aligned with the
Navy on all of these efforts. Along with the technologies being
inserted for VIRGINIA Class submarines, Naval Reactors has renewed our
focus and investment in advanced technologies which will pave the way
for improvements in speed, energy density, and stealth for the follow
on SSN(X) program. We are also focused on refueling up to seven LOS
ANGELES Class submarines, helping to maintain our submarine force
structure with boats that have the warfighting capability to contribute
effectively to undersea missions.
In aircraft carrier shipbuilding, USS GERALD R. FORD (CVN 78)
continues to make great progress and will soon be employed and
operating alongside U.S. and allied forces. This phenomenal ship is
ready to provide over a half century of naval presence around the
globe. This past year marked a significant event in the employment of
the FORD Class--Full Ship Shock Trials. The positive result of this
testing is a tribute to the precision, rigor, and execution that go
into the design, production, and delivery of the world's most capable
aircraft carrier. The second ship of the FORD Class, the JOHN F.
KENNEDY (CVN 79) continues propulsion plant testing and is on track for
delivery to the Navy in 2024. Progress also continues on construction
of ENTERPRISE (CVN 80) and DORIS MILLER (CVN 81), carriers in a two-
ship buy that allows the Navy to realize important cost savings, while
maintaining a steady, predictable workload within our vital industrial
base.
naval reactors overview
This committee's support has enabled the safe operation of the
nuclear fleet, substantial progress on our key projects, and our
continued oversight and regulation of all areas across the Naval
Nuclear Propulsion Program. Naval Reactors' budget request for fiscal
year 2023 is $2.1 billion. Your past support has allowed significant
progress on our three major Department of Energy funded projects--
COLUMBIA Class propulsion plant development and production, the
refueling overhaul of our research and training reactor in New York,
and the construction of the Naval Spent Fuel Handling Facility in
Idaho. When I first arrived at Naval Reactors in 2015, these three
projects had not yet hit their peak funding. Over the course of the
past several years, these projects have been a major focus for the
Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. We have managed and lead the way
through many challenges, and today, I can confidently say that the
development and production of the first COLUMBIA Class propulsion plant
is proceeding in support of lead boat construction; and the refueling
of our research and training reactor will complete within fiscal year
2023. With your support, the Program also continues to make significant
progress on construction of an incredibly important Naval Spent Fuel
Handling Facility. While we are staying focused on completing these
efforts, we are also preparing for the future with renewed emphasis on
advanced and innovative technologies.
major projects
COLUMBIA Class Propulsion Plant
The COLUMBIA Class ballistic missile submarine remains the Navy's
number one acquisition priority. Naval Reactors is supporting lead ship
construction and is delivering the life-of-ship reactor core and the
electric drive propulsion system for the COLUMBIA Class program. The
fiscal year 2023 budget includes $53.9 million that will allow
continued support for lead ship propulsion plant design and safety
analysis work required for lead ship reactor testing and delivery.
S8G Prototype Refueling Overhaul
The fiscal year 2023 budget request includes $20 million toward
final execution of the refueling and overhaul of the New York land-
based prototype, which will enable an additional 20 years of Naval
Reactors' commitment to research, development, and initial operator
training. Over the course of the past 3 years, the project has worked
through performance and testing equipment challenges, and in April of
last year met a key milestone--installation of the new reactor core.
This reactor core, called the Technology Demonstration Core, includes
COLUMBIA Class type fuel modules as part of testing and demonstrating
the manufacturability necessary for production and delivery of the
COLUMBIA Class reactor core. We continue to provide strong oversight to
improve cost and schedule performance, and the project will complete in
fiscal year 2023. I look forward to providing the final update on this
multi-year project in next year's appearance before the Committee.
Spent Fuel Handling Recapitalization Project
Naval Reactors is constructing the Naval Spent Fuel Handling
Facility (SFHP), located at the Naval Reactors Facility in Idaho. The
facility is critical to our mission to manage naval spent nuclear fuel
and support aircraft carrier and submarine fleet requirements. The
fiscal year 2023 budget request includes $398 million for continuation
of this project through several key milestones. Economic conditions
influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic and the discovery of unexpected
bedrock conditions beneath the facility's foundations have presented
significant challenges for us. To address these challenges, we
evaluated actions necessary to ensure the overall Project milestones
remain achievable, including additional resources (e.g., extended/added
shifts, parallel and fast-tracking of work efforts) and additional
funding to mitigate impacts to current and future construction
subcontracts. Consistent with these actions, I approved a revision to
the SFHP Performance Baseline in fiscal year 2021. Funding in fiscal
year 2023 will be critical to implementing our construction sequence. I
remain committed to keeping the committee informed of our progress, and
actions to mitigate construction challenges, as we aggressively manage
and oversee this complex and large-scale infrastructure project.
technical base funding
In addition to our three priority projects, Naval Reactors
maintains a high-performing technical base. The technical base is the
set of fundamental skills and capabilities necessary to safely and
effectively support the nuclear Navy. It includes a foundation of
specialists in nuclear materials, nuclear physics, thermal-hydraulic
testing, acoustics, electrical design, software development, system
development, refueling, and other specialized skills, along with the
associated facilities and laboratories to conduct our work. The people
and activities that make up our technical base are leveraged for our
priority projects but also perform essential work to support the
operating fleet and ensure our day-to-day technological advantage over
our competitors. Specifically, the technical base: (1) addresses
emergent needs and challenges of our nuclear fleet, (2) executes
nuclear reactor technology research and development that supports
improving today's fleet and future capabilities, and (3) modernizes
critical infrastructure and reduces the Program's legacy environmental
liabilities. This base also supports the lean yet highly effective
Federal workforce that provides the oversight necessary to carry out
this important technical work safely and efficiently. These activities
provide 24-7 support to the globally deployed nuclear-powered Navy.
Attracting and retaining top talent is critical to our technical base's
ability to fulfill and mature our mission amidst a wide array of
challenges and new demands in this era of strategic competition. The
engineers and scientists at our Naval Nuclear Laboratory and nuclear
capable shipyards are national treasures, who are in high demand from
other areas of our economy. We continue to work with the leadership of
our labs and private shipyards to identify innovative means to stay
competitive in this aggressive talent market.
Program Direction
Our small but highly skilled Federal workforce is critical to
execution of our responsibilities. With the fiscal year 2023 Program
Direction request, I remain highly focused on attracting, developing,
and retaining a talented and diverse workforce to oversee and manage a
wide array of work across the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program to
ensure mission success. The talented and dedicated people at our
Washington, DC headquarters and field offices are absolutely essential
to our strong centralized management and oversight of the important
work we perform for our Nation.
Building ships that have over forty years of expected life requires
staffing continuity to ensure the Nation has a workforce with the deep
technical knowledge needed to execute Naval Reactors' cradle-to-grave
responsibilities of these robust systems. I must have sufficient
Federal staffing to meet the demands of sustaining and improving
today's fleet while simultaneously growing our future capabilities. The
cumulative effect of personnel costs growing above inflationary rates
and an increase in recent senior level retirements has impeded our
ability to reach this goal and challenged our ability to maintain our
staffing levels. The market for this talent is exceptionally
competitive. Increasingly complex systems, new and innovative research
efforts, and growing cyber and other vulnerabilities require additional
expertise and new perspectives that can only be gained through reaching
our full personnel requirements. I will continue to communicate with
the committee on our requirements and progress in reaching our related
staffing goals. In concert with our renewed focus on research and
development that I have highlighted over the last several years, we
need to find new ways to bring the nation's top talent into Naval
Reactors and retain this talent to transition technical innovations
into our submarines and aircraft carriers. I respectfully request
Congress' support, which will allow me to recruit, select, develop, and
retain the talented workforce that was started by Admiral Hyman
Rickover many decades ago and that has proved to be crucial to the
success of the Program.
Research and Development
Our research and development strategy represents a renewed
investment in cutting-edge technologies aimed at reversing an eroding
capability gap with strategic adversaries like China and Russia.
Technology investment must be reinvigorated today to have new
technologies ready for future classes of ships and to lower costs and
reduce construction timelines. It should be noted that these
investments also enhance and improve the performance of today's fleet;
this is especially important given the increasing competition in the
global maritime environment. Our critical research and development is
conducted by the dedicated and talented teams of people at our Naval
Nuclear Laboratory sites--the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory in
Pittsburgh, the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory and Kesselring Site in
greater Albany, and the Naval Reactors Facility in Idaho.
Our first priority is always support of today's fleet. Our labs
perform approximately 4,000 technical evaluations annually that enable
Naval Reactors to thoroughly assess and respond to emergent issues,
thereby keeping our ships mission-ready while ensuring nuclear safety.
These efforts are essential to keep our ships at-sea operating abroad
for longer periods of time, our carrier strike groups globally engaged,
and ballistic missile and attack submarines ready to respond at any
time.
Beginning with last year's fiscal year 2022 budget, Naval Reactors
has embarked on a path to identify and develop new technologies for
inclusion in the next generation of nuclear powered ships while
simultaneously delivering the enhanced capabilities to the existing
fleet mentioned earlier. We are pursuing advanced reactor core and fuel
systems, advanced manufacturing and inspection techniques, next-
generation instrumentation and control architectures and sensors, and
asymmetrical applications of emerging technologies (e.g., advanced
power conversion, artificial intelligence, data analytics, additive
manufacturing, and advanced robotics). These advancements have the
potential to deliver both greater capability and lower acquisition and
lifecycle costs, while ensuring the Navy is constantly improving our
advantage and innovating. I commit to further engagement with the
committee on these advanced technology maturation efforts to enhance
understanding and support for the actions described above. I take great
pride in highlighting our innovative and new technologies and how we
can transition them into meeting requirements for the Fleet of
tomorrow.
I want to assure the committee that our investments are supported
by a comprehensive and rigorous planning effort we undertake with our
partners at the Naval Nuclear Laboratory. Our annual work execution
plans are derived from this comprehensive alignment, and I personally
review and approve each plan to ensure we are making the right
investments and tradeoffs in all areas of our business.
Facilities and Infrastructure
Our Naval Nuclear Laboratory facilities and infrastructure are
essential in carrying out Naval Reactors' mission. This year's budget
request supports continuing our recapitalization of Naval Nuclear
Laboratory facilities and infrastructure systems, many of which have
supported the Program since its inception over 70 years ago.
Specifically, this budget includes a consolidation and recapitalization
of our thermal hydraulic testing capabilities that will advance
cutting-edge technologies and improve testing efficiency. Without these
recapitalization efforts, we will be unable to effectively support
nuclear fleet operations and advanced research and development efforts
at the level required by this complex technology. We are ramping up our
efforts in decontaminating and decommissioning (D&D) older facilities
that have been in existence since the start of the Program in the early
1950s. We have approximately $8 billion in environmental liabilities
requiring D&D efforts. Over one-third of this estimate is associated
with the cost to remediate and demolish inactive facilities and
infrastructure at the Naval Nuclear Laboratory sites. We continue to
retire these liabilities in an environmentally responsible and cost-
effective manner to support best use of our funding. I look forward to
future engagement with the committee to discuss our specific actions
and tangible examples of Naval Reactors' long-term plan to reach our
goals. Through our established partnership with the Department of
Energy Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM), we are leveraging
their experience in efficient, safe, and cost-effective remediation of
environmental liabilities across the complex. I am pleased with the
collaboration on this effort with my partners in DOE-EM.
AUKUS
In September of last year, President Biden announced an enhanced
trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom,
and the United States (AUKUS). The three governments are engaging in an
18-month consultation period to seek an optimal pathway for delivering
a conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability to
Australia at the earliest achievable date. Naval Reactors is playing a
key leadership role in developing this plan to ensure that our nation's
preeminent expertise is applied to the nuclear-powered submarine
initiative. We are now more than 6 months into this consultation period
and are focused on ensuring Australia understands the full scope of
capabilities necessary to design, build, operate, and maintain a
nuclear navy, as well as properly dispose a nuclear powered ship at the
end of service. This includes an in-depth analysis of the trilateral
partners' existing regulatory frameworks, as well as the existing
educational, industrial, and technical capabilities, and capacities
needed to identify the optimal path forward. This effort involves
emphasizing to Australia the key leadership roles, labor talent, and
infrastructure investments they will need to contribute to bring this
to reality. In February, I along with a team of subject matter experts
from Naval Reactors and the United Kingdom traveled to Australia to
assess their current capability. During this trip, I met with senior
Australian government officials. As part of our discussions, we
emphasized that obtaining a nuclear powered submarine capability is a
long road which requires steadfast commitment to the highest levels of
stewardship. While my number one priority is supporting our current and
future nuclear fleet, the AUKUS efforts are being supported by a small
cadre of experts who are responsible for ensuring the critical facets
of this consultation are completed effectively. The foundation on which
this effort is built is made up of our people, our technology, and the
facilities that support our own Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. While
Australia is funding this consultation period, Congress' support of
Naval Reactors' fiscal year 2023 budget request is vital to support our
primary mission and allow the Naval Reactors leadership team the
ability to support key activities during the consultation period.
conclusion
The Navy's ability to maintain mastery of the undersea domain and
sustain a formidable forward presence and its resultant value cannot be
simply assumed. Naval nuclear propulsion is an incredible but
unforgiving technology, and must be treated appropriately, with a
constant focus on safe operation. Naval Reactor's cradle-to-grave
responsibility to manage this technology is paramount, and I assure
this committee that I will balance investments in today's fleet with
the requirements of a future fleet, carefully steer future cooperation
efforts, and preserve the focus on providing effective naval nuclear
propulsion for the United States Navy. I appreciate the strong support
this program receives from Congress and respectfully urge your support
for our fiscal year 2023 budget request.
B83 MEGATON NUCLEAR BOMB
Senator Feinstein. Thank you very much.
We'll proceed with the questions then. Deputy Secretary
Adams, in 2018,--excuse me--I wrote to then Secretaries Mattis
and Perry about my concern with the Trump Administration's plan
to retain the B83 Megaton Nuclear Bomb. In short, it appeared
to me to be unnecessary.
While this Administration did request funding to retain the
B83 in fiscal year 2022, I was pleased to see its planned
retirement in the fiscal year 2023 budget request, which
mirrored the Biden Nuclear Posture Review.
Deputy Secretary Adams, what is the current plan for the
B83's retirement?
Dr. Adams. So the current plan, first of all, is to ensure
the safety of that weapon while it is still in the field. We
will be spending appropriately on that.
The second part of the plan is to retire it as soon as
practical in accordance with the Nuclear Posture Review.
Senator Feinstein. Well, I think there was some adequate
notice last year that at least I was concerned with it. What is
the plan for that weapon?
Dr. Adams. The plan is to retire it.
Senator Feinstein. And when would that be?
Dr. Adams. I don't have the details, but I can certainly
take that for the record.
[The information follows:]
The 2022 NPR, led by the U.S. Department of Defense, concluded that
the B83-1 should be retired without executing a program to extend the
system's life. A cost-benefit analysis was conducted, and the NPR
determined the combined age and complexity of the weapon outweighed the
benefits of retaining the weapons in inventory. The specific retirement
date of the B83-1 is classified and will be provided to the committee
through the appropriate means to transmit classified information.
Senator Feinstein. Well, if you would take it and just make
note that I'm interested in it. I will follow it. It seems to
me this is a weapon that should be retired or a bomb that
should be retired. So I'd appreciate that.
NON-PROLIFERATION PROGRAMS
Administrator Hruby and Deputy Secretary Hinderstein, the
Nonpro Programs have a good deal to accomplish. This budget
request doesn't adequately fund these essential programs and
NNSA recently announced it plans to reassess Nonproliferation's
priorities.
Administrator Hruby and Deputy Secretary Hinderstein, can
you each describe your vision for the future of NNSA's
Nonproliferation Program?
Ms. Hruby. Thank you, Senator. I'll start and then ask
Corey to add.
So we have some big challenges, as you mentioned. We have
to figure out a new approach to Russia and China. We have to
reassure our allies and partners that the Nonproliferation
Regime is still working, and we have to look at emerging
threats, especially in light of North Korea's actions, Iran's
potential not re-entry into the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan
of Action), and other activities around the world.
So we think we have a solid budget request to do that.
We're starting some new programs, including programs that focus
more on nuclear energy around the world to make sure that it
isn't a proliferation risk, and I'll let Corey talk about that,
and we also have a small request for a new bio-assurance
program.
Ms. Hinderstein. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
I think it's really important when we look around the world
to recognize that we have invested and will and must continue
to invest in our nonproliferation, nuclear security and
counter-proliferation programs.
We feel like we have placed a budget request in front of
you that meets our most pressing needs, but we also recognize
that the world in this space is changing quite quickly.
As the Administrator said, we are focused on making sure
that the threats that we understand can be met and countered
and that we are anticipating the next threats. We cannot just
look at what the problem was before, we have to look at what
the problem's going to be tomorrow and for that reason, we're
investing in our science and technology base, our research and
development base, and our partnership with allies and other
partners around the world, including the important
international organizations that are able to be operationalized
both every day and in the moment of crisis, such as what we've
faced with Russia's invasion of Ukraine and their reckless
behavior in Ukraine around nuclear facilities.
Senator Feinstein. Thank you very much.
Senator Kennedy.
COLUMBIA CLASS BY 2026
Senator Kennedy. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thanks again to all of you for being here. Admiral,
Columbia Class, we need it. We need it by 2027 which is when
we're supposed to have it. Are we on schedule? Tell me we're
going to have it by 2026.
Admiral Caldwell. Yes, sir. Thanks for the question and
thanks for the support of this subcommittee for my programs. It
allows me to deliver what I need to for the U.S. Navy.
We are on pace to deliver Columbia on schedule. Now my
responsibilities there include the reactor plant and the
propulsion plant. On the reactor plant I'm responsible for
designing and delivering the reactor core, which is designed to
last for over 40 years. That's a pretty heavy technological
lift. That core is under manufacture right now and we are on
pace to deliver that core in advance of the need for the
shipyard's construction schedule.
I'm also responsible in the reactor plant for delivering
the heavy components, the large steam generators, reactor
vessels, things like that, and thanks to the prior support of
this subcommittee I was able to complete the designs and order
those materials on schedule in fiscal year 2019. In fact, we're
on pace to deliver those to support the construction of
Columbia.
In fact, recently I saw the reactor vessel in the shipyard
already up there.
There's a lot of other work that goes on to the reactor
safety analysis and the manuals that go with the reactor plant.
Those are all on the pace that we need to.
The other part of my responsibility is the Department of
Navy-funded responsibility to deliver the electric drive. This
ship will have----
Senator Kennedy. Excuse me, Admiral. Give me about 30 more
seconds.
Admiral Caldwell. Yes, sir.
Senator Kennedy. I'm sorry to interrupt you, but I've got
some questions for----
Admiral Caldwell. All right, sir. Anyway, we're on pace,
sir, and thanks to you for your support.
NUCLEAR-ARMED SEA-LAUNCHED CRUISE MISSILE (SLCM-N)
Senator Kennedy. Okay. I don't know whether to call you
Madam Secretary or Madam Administrator.
Madam Secretary Administrator, how about that, tell me why
you want to cancel the submarine launch cruise missile.
Ms. Hruby. Senator, the decision to cancel the SLCM
(submarine-launched cruise missile) was made in the 2022
Nuclear Posture Review by the Department of Defense. Our job is
to support, you know, to deliver warheads for the Department of
Defense, and our budget request is consistent with that.
Senator Kennedy. You agree with the decision?
Ms. Hruby. Well, it's not my job to agree or to disagree
with the decision. I think there are solid arguments on both
sides of this decision----
Senator Kennedy. Well, you don't have to follow it, do you?
Ms. Hruby [continuing.] And that the capability----
Senator Kennedy. You're not bound by what they're
recommending, are you?
Ms. Hruby. My program of record has to be consistent with
what the Department of Defense wants in their Nuclear Program.
Senator Kennedy. Mm-hmm. So you can't call them up and say
I think you're making a big mistake here? What are they going
to do? Hang up on you? No, I don't think so.
Ms. Hruby. Well, I think they will tell me that's not my
job.
B-83 MEGATON BOMB
Senator Kennedy. Mm-hmm. I think you can handle yourself,
Madam Secretary. I believe you could.
Why do you want to retire the B83 early?
Ms. Hruby. Again, a similar answer that was the decision in
the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review. It is a very old weapon and
the decision was made to immediately retire it in the Nuclear
Posture Review and the NNSA intends to do that as the
Administration decided.
Senator Kennedy. Are there any strategic targets for which
only the B83 can destroy?
Ms. Hruby. My understanding, and again this is not the
heart of my job, but my understanding is that the number of
targets the B83 is credible for has been shrinking and any more
than that would need to be in another session.
Senator Kennedy. An underground nuclear facility could be
targeted by B83, couldn't it?
Ms. Hruby. Again, I don't think that's a discussion we can
have in this forum.
PLUTONIUM PIT PRODUCTION
Senator Kennedy. Yes. All right. Talk to me about the
plutonium pit production capability. Our stockpile's aging.
What are we going to do?
Ms. Hruby. That's the heart of why we're developing the
capability to produce plutonium pits again and we're doing this
in a new manner. We're doing it at two sites, at the Los Alamos
National Laboratory and also at the Savannah River Site.
We think this approach will provide the resilience we need
going forward and the adaptability that we'll need going
forward, but it's a big lift to build a production facility for
nuclear materials and we are making good progress on that at
Los Alamos and we're finishing the design for Savannah River.
Senator Kennedy. I'm just going to close with this comment.
Sometimes people lie and sometimes they run countries and I
think the Ayatollah in Iran habitually lies and if you get rid
of that B83 that you want to eliminate, I think you're going to
make him smile and I don't think that's in America's interests
and I really think you need to reconsider.
Madam Chair, I'm done.
Senator Feinstein. Thank you very much.
Senator Heinrich.
LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LAB
Senator Heinrich. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Administrator Hruby, as I know you're aware, yesterday the
Cerro Pelado fire was finally over 70 percent contained, a real
dramatic improvement from a couple weeks ago, when, given wind
conditions, we were all concerned about a run towards Los
Alamos.
Can you talk to me about the ongoing efforts between NNSA,
the county, the Forest Service, and the Park Service to just
coordinate efforts and make sure that we have the maximum
defensible space for the lab?
Ms. Hruby. Yes, Senator Heinrich. Thank you for that
question.
We have paid close attention and continue to pay close
attention to the fire around Los Alamos. I'm happy to say over
the last 3 or 4 years Los Alamos has done a terrific job of
clearing fuel on the laboratory property and as a result of
this fire actually lent the machines to help clear fuels to the
Forest Service and other areas that would provide even a
greater barricade to the fire taking hold at Los Alamos.
Senator Heinrich. I was there on Friday and noticed a lot
of work being done sort of in the moment and I think that to
the extent that we can make sure that we have those treatments
done well before we have an acute event and that means also
coordinating with other agencies to make sure that those
interagency boundaries are treated.
COMPETES/USCIA (CHIPS AND SCIENCE ACT)
As you know, we're in the middle of trying to resolve
differences now between the House and Senate-passed
competitiveness bills, COMPETES or USICA or whatever we decide
to call them, but the COMPETES bill includes the Restore and
Modernize our National Labs Act which authorized just a little
over $30 billion for infrastructure in the labs.
Talk to me about why that's important, what the
infrastructure needs are, and why we need to keep that in the
legislation as we go though conference, what it will actually
mean for American competitiveness and the labs specifically.
Ms. Hruby. Thank you, Senator Heinrich, for that question.
As has already been said at this hearing, but we are
spending a lot of money on revitalizing our production
capabilities and we don't want to make the mistake that we made
before where we paid a lot of attention to the labs and we
didn't pay attention to production. We in fact want a balanced
program, but it's hard to do that within the constraints of the
budget that we have today.
So this bill that you're talking about would provide us the
ability to actually reinvest in the laboratory science
capabilities for our NNSA programs and there are many things
that we need to do and want to do.
We're currently working hard at the Nevada National
Security Site to build new capabilities for sub-critical
experiment, but we know we need reinvestment in our inertial
confinement fusion programs. We know we need investments in
combined radiation experiments at Sandia and so such a bill
would be tremendously beneficial to keep our R&D programs
second to none.
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT FUSION
Senator Heinrich. I have heard concern from the labs
regarding the fiscal year 2023 request in inertial confinement
fusion as well as super-computing and sub-critical experiments.
Are you concerned with the budget levels in any of those
areas and the potential impact on the ability of the lab to
fulfill any of its basic missions in those areas?
Ms. Hruby. The answer is yes. This is something that Marv
and I talk a lot about, how we create room for investment in
science given all the deliverables. At the same time we think
that the budget is adequate to do what we have to do, the main
deliverables in 2023, but we have to make sure that we have a
long-term stable plan and it's a lot easier to invest now than
it will be after we get past the point that investment can
help, and I don't know if Dr. Adams wants to say anything.
Dr. Adams. Very quickly, I'll add that we are looking to
develop a long-term plan for the ICF capabilities that will
involve judicious reinvestments in existing facilities to
upgrade them. It involves maintaining them so that they can
continue to deliver for stockpile stewardship, but in the
longer term, some of these facilities need to be replaced and
developing that long-term strategy is where we're focusing
right now. At that point then we'll know how and where to
invest.
Senator Heinrich. Thank you.
PLUTONIUM PIT PRODUCTION
Senator Feinstein. Administrator Hruby, in April I believe
you testified that NNSA is still working with the Department of
Defense to decide whether 80 plutonium pits per year by 2030 is
the correct number we'll need to meet strategic need.
In the meantime, I'm told we're not going to be able to
produce 50 pits annually at the Savannah River site until 2032
or 2035 at the earliest.
You've also said that no amount of money will achieve the
80 plutonium pit per year capability faster.
So here's the question. In light of these challenges, what
steps is NNSA taking to strengthen pit production management?
Ms. Hruby. Everything you said is true, although we're not
re-examining the requirement for 80 pits per year by 2030.
That's a requirement that's given to us by the Department of
Defense and the Nuclear Weapons Council.
The things that we're doing, we are trying to make sure
that we understand the supply chain issues that may slow
construction when we're ready to begin construction. So we are
asking to pull money in from out years earlier so that we can
buy materials that we know might be supply chain issues, for
example, glove boxes, and so that as soon as we complete
design, we think we can move apace to do the construction.
Senator Feinstein. Thank you.
Senator Kennedy.
Senator Kennedy. I'm going to defer, if it's okay, Madam
Chair, to my colleague from Tennessee.
Senator Feinstein. Senator, please go ahead.
URANIUM PROCESSING FACILITY
Senator Hagerty. Thank you, Senator Feinstein, Senator
Kennedy. Thank you for holding this hearing.
To our witnesses, thank you for being here, all of you.
I'd like to start out with a question about the Uranium
Processing Facility, something that I've been aware of,
underway for many years in my home State of Tennessee, It's one
of the Federal Government's largest construction projects and
over the past 8 years this subcommittee has provided
significant funding, including $600 million in fiscal year
2022, that was $75 million above the President's budget
request.
This year your budget requests $62 million to continue the
construction of UPF (Uranium Processing Facility) and the
project has a long history which includes review teams and the
Government Accountability Office. The project was originally
supposed to be delivered by 2025. Now I understand the new
delivery date has been pushed out to August of 2026, is that
correct, Ms. Hruby?
Ms. Hruby. That is correct.
Senator Hagerty. And what will the impact then be on the
goal of having it cost no more than $6.5 billion if we're going
to extend the project timeline out into another year?
Ms. Hruby. we have a review going on right now to look at
what the cost implications will be for the extension and we
should have those numbers later this summer.
I do want to say this about the UPF. It's a very large
long-term construction project that's very difficult to do and
we were doing that during COVID. The heart of that construction
occurred during COVID. So I just want to say that I think given
the one-of-a-kind construction for a large $6.5 billion
facility that occurred over 8 years that an 8-month
construction delay and what we anticipate to be a relatively
minor cost increase is a commendable accomplishment.
I mean, obviously we'd like to be exactly on time,----
Senator Hagerty. Sure, sure.
Ms. Hruby [continuing.] But given the conditions that we
were working in, I still think this is a tremendous success for
the country.
Senator Hagerty. The scale of the project has concerned me
for many years. I was Commerce Secretary in my home State when
the planning process was going on for this, an ambitious
project, one that needed to be done. I'd love to hear your
thoughts on the importance of the project now in terms of
completing it because I think it'll be good to have on the
record.
Ms. Hruby. Yes. The Uranium Processing Facility, when it's
complete, will allow us to take down buildings that are 70
years old and that really are not safe to operate well into the
future. We would have to invest an incredible amount of money
in them.
So this is really about modernizing an infrastructure that
we anticipate needing to use for generations to come.
Senator Hagerty. I think we're excited in our home State
about the potential for that space as it frees up because it
has great economic development potential and I think it will
help us yield a lot more economic activity from that site, as
well.
One of the things that I wanted to talk with you about is
the management of the project. I know this is a long-term
project, one that is unique, but my understanding is that you
currently have a group of independent project management
experts that oversee the project and they report directly to
you.
I think this group is one of the key reasons that the NNSA
construction projects were removed from the GAO's (Government
Accountability Office) High-Risk List. Now I understand from
the budget request that you're going to reorganize this, get
away from that structure and go back to a structure where you
don't have this accountable group on top of it.
Can you explain to me the thought process there and how
you're going to obtain accountability to see this project
through to the end?
Ms. Hruby. Well, the reorganization that you're referring
to is intended to actually increase our attention to
construction projects. We're going to have some of the largest
construction projects in the U.S. Government not only now but
into the future and I want a continuous stream of
infrastructure and construction project management that we will
have in the new organization and as you know, the person who's
been managing that is about to retire. I want to attract the
absolute best construction manager in the U.S. Government to
that job and I've created a position that I think will allow us
to do that. It will still have the same reporting chain.
Senator Hagerty. Okay. So it'll report directly to you.
They'll still have direct oversight. That's my parochial
interest here is just making sure that we have the type of
talent you describe watching this project as carefully as they
have been to make sure that now the new delivery date in August
of 2026 is met.
Thank you very much. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Senator Feinstein. Would you like to have another round?
COLUMBIA CLASS SUBMARINE
Senator Kennedy. I would. I just have a couple more
questions,----
Senator Feinstein. All right.
Senator Kennedy [continuing.] Madam Chair, if that's okay.
Senator Feinstein. Why don't you go ahead?
Senator Kennedy. Okay. Admiral, I had to cut you off for
the sake of our time constraints. I want to let you finish, but
I do want to ask you one more question about the Columbia Class
submarine.
Can you just briefly explain the importance of that,
particularly in light of our new working relationship with
Australia and others?
Admiral Caldwell. Well, sir, first off, the Columbia Class
submarine recapitalizes our Trident Ballistic Missile Submarine
Force. Today, we have 14 of those and we will recapitalize it
with 12 Columbia Class submarines.
The fact that I'm building a life of ship core means that I
can do the mission with 12 ships versus 14. That saves the U.S.
Government $40 billion in total ownership costs. That's huge,
but importantly that is the foundation for our national
defense.
It is the Number 1 investment priority in the U.S. Navy and
it is the foundation for our strategic deterrent force.
Now specifically that doesn't pertain directly to Australia
but all of the things that I do to deliver the Columbia Class
submarine to provide the nuclear stewardship to provide the
material and all that expertise, that all enables the support
that my program provides to the U.S. Navy as well as the U.K.
Navy because we're heavily involved in supporting the
Dreadnought work that goes on to recapitalize their SBN and
that will all be leveraged to support our new and evolving
relationship with the Australians.
Senator Kennedy. You were about to go into a new topic when
I rudely interrupted.
Admiral Caldwell. I'll hit it real quickly, sir.
Senator Kennedy. You go right ahead.
Admiral Caldwell. The Columbia is going to be powered with
an electric drive motor versus a steam turbine on earlier
ships. That electric drive motor, we know that was a big
important step. So we took a lot of steps to derisk that and my
team built a facility that has all the major components of the
engine room, full size, prototypical, and we've run that.
In August of 2020 we ran that at full power and got a heat
run and it performed superbly, and then we've had a 100-hour
endurance run.
With that effort, we now have taken the final design turn
and we are building the electric drive motor and the supporting
components and they will be delivered to the shipyard to
support the construction and again that's all enabled by the
support of Congress. Thank you, sir.
Senator Kennedy. Okay. Is there anything else anybody would
like to share with us? You've been well coached there. I
understand never volunteer. I don't mean that as a criticism.
When I was a young lawyer, I lost a couple cases that I
would have won if I would have just shut up.
I want to thank you all for coming. We're looking forward
to working with you. I appreciate all the hard work that went
into this budget, this proposed budget, but I really think we
need to sharpen our pencils and do some more, and I do have
some concerns in light of the changing circumstances in terms
of geopolitical risk.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I am done.
Senator Feinstein. Well, thank you.
I want to say thank you to Administrator Hruby, Deputy
Administrators Adams and Hinderstein, and Admiral Caldwell. We
appreciate your being here.
ADDITIONAL COMMITTEE QUESTIONS
The hearing will remain open for 10 days. Senators may
submit additional information or questions for the record
within that time if they would like and the subcommittee
requests that all responses to questions for the record be
provided within 30 days.
[The following questions were submitted to the Department,
but the questions were not answered by press time.]
Questions Submitted to Hon. Jill Hruby
Questions Submitted by Senator Jeff Merkley
Question. What work has been completed and is planned on the low
enriched uranium (LEU) research and design program that with the
funding Congress has already provided? In 2016, NNSA submitted to
Congress a conceptual plan with a 15-year timeline from fiscal year
2018-fiscal year 2032. Since then, which activities in the timeline
(e.g., irradiation of HEU fuel samples and/or LEU fuel samples, and
post-irradiation examination) has NNSA completed, and how much has that
shortened the remaining timeline for Navy LEU fuel system development,
if Congress were to provide sufficient funding?
What more needs to be done to complete Navy LEU fuel system
development? What is the timeline for completion of an LEU fuel system?
What is the total estimated cost for development of a Navy LEU fuel
system?
Have the Office of Naval Reactors (NR) and Office of Defense
Nuclear Nonproliferation (DNN) resolved any obstacles to information
sharing between them that is necessary for DNN's research and
development of Navy LEU fuel? If not, what obstacles remain, what is
planned to overcome them, and what additional resources are necessary
to do so?
What discussions has the NNSA had as part of the Australia-United
Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) security pact about providing LEU naval
reactors to Australia? Have any concrete plans or steps been taken to
provide LEU naval reactors to Australia?
______
Questions Submitted by Senator John Hoeven
W80-4
Question. The budget request includes significant funding for the
W80-4, which is the warhead that will be placed in the Long Range Stand
Off weapon, or LRSO, that the Air Force is developing.
Can you provide an update on the schedule for the W80-4?
Are you able to keep up with the schedule the Air Force is using to
develop the LRSO missile?
W87-1
Question. The W87-1 will support the deployment of the Air Force's
next intercontinental ballistic missile, now known as the Sentinel. The
W87-1 will require the production of new plutonium pits, so the
investments we are making in pit production directly support the
development and deployment of this warhead.
Do you expect that we will be manufacturing new plutonium pits in
time to support the initial deployment of the Sentinel?
Plutonium Pit Production
Question. Congress mandated a goal of producing 80 new plutonium
pits per year by 2030 in order to support our nuclear modernization
efforts and ensure that we have the capability to replace our aging
stockpile. NNSA has stated publicly that it will not meet the goal of
producing 80 new pits per year by 2030 for a variety of reasons.
What support do you need from Congress to accelerate progress
toward the production of 80 pits per year?
Sea-Launched Cruise Missile-Nuclear (SLCM-N)
Question. The administration has elected to cancel the sea-launched
nuclear cruise missile, despite the importance that program would have
in deterring Russia and China. The budget request also does not include
any funding for development of a warhead that would be placed on that
missile, even though this committee provided $10 million to begin that
project in fiscal year 2022.
How much money would be required in fiscal year 2023 to keep the
warhead for a sea-launched cruise missile on schedule, should Congress
decide to retain the sea-launched cruise missile program?
______
Questions Submitted by Senator Bill Hagerty
Question. On Monday, May 16, 2022 NNSA announced that it canceled
the solicitation for the management and operations of Y-12 and Pantex,
terminated the award announcement it made in November 2021, and intends
to hold new competitions for separate management contracts of the two
facilities individually.
I want the experts at NNSA to make the decision based on the best
information available while following all applicable laws and
regulations. From the beginning of my term, my only advocacy has been
for that decision to be made as quickly as possible.
This is a big decision, one that my constituents have been waiting
on for a long time.
Administrator Hruby, can you further elaborate on your decision to
separate these two contracts and how it will improve management,
specifically at Y-12 National Nuclear Security Complex?
Administrator Hruby, can you discuss what the new timeline, based
on Monday's announcement, looks like for awarding a final Management &
Operations Contract at Y-12?
What effect, if any, will this decision have on the 5 life
extension programs NNSA is currently undertaking?
Finally, can you discuss what budgetary implications this decision
will have at Y-12 in the coming years?
SUBCOMMITTEE RECESS
Senator Feinstein. Thank you for being here, and we will
stand adjourned. Thank you. The meeting is adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 10:44 a.m., Wednesday, May 18, the
subcommittee was recessed, to reconvene subject to the call of
the Chair.]