Publications: Nuclear Security & Deterrence Monitor

The House of Representatives fiscal 2026 national defense authorization bill, passed last week, would require the U.S. Air Force to submit to lawmakers a plan to sustain aging components on Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles. The annual plan would need to be submitted on LGM-35A Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) by Boeing until the […]

BWX Technologies (BWXT) announced Tuesday the award of a contract valued at $1.5 billion to support national defense-focused domestic uranium enrichment for the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). The Lynchburg, Va.-based nuclear company will begin tackling the list of requirements for building the Domestic Uranium Enrichment Centrifuge Experiment (DUECE) pilot plant, the […]

The United States and the United Kingdom concluded a joint summit Thursday by putting out a memorandum of understanding on “technology prosperity,” including cooperation on issues from nuclear energy to artificial intelligence. While the deal between the Trans-Atlantic allies seeks to deepen collaboration on all-things-nuclear, it also sets out a goal of shedding dependence on […]

Most of President Donald Trump’s picks to be leaders in the Department of Energy nuclear weapons complex were finally confirmed Thursday 51-47, some after waiting on the bench since May after being voted through at the committee level. The nuclear weapons complex nominees confirmed en bloc this week are: Brandon Williams, the nominee to head […]

The House passed its version of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 231-to-196 Wednesday, after two days of debating around 300 amendments. Four Republicans voted against the bill, while one did not vote. Meanwhile, 17 Democrats voted for the bill, while four did not vote. The House version would authorize $25.4 billion for the […]

Rik Geiersbach was just appointed chief strategy officer for BWX Technologies and will report directly to CEO Rex Geveden, the nuclear fuel company announced Monday on its website. “As chief strategy officer, Rik will lead the development, execution and integration of BWXT’s enterprise strategy and merger and acquisition initiatives,” Geveden said in the release. “His […]

Management and operating (M&O) contractors at National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) have not developed reliable cost estimates for fixed-price construction subcontracts, the Government Accountability Office said. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has a cost estimating guide that established 12 steps that “reflect commercial best practices to help agencies develop comprehensive, well documented, accurate, and credible […]

Construction plans have been approved for the Sentinel missile wings at F.E. Warren Air Force Base (AFB), Wyo. and Malmstrom AFB, Mont., Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) told the Exchange Monitor in the Senate speaker’s lobby Tuesday. The 90th wing and the 341st wings at these bases would make up two out of three missile wings […]

As the Air Force and Department of Defense restructure the Sentinel program, the Government Accountability Office notes there is a shift to starting to convert to new silos at the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Air Force Base (AFB), Wyo. “Despite the delays stemming from the Sentinel restructuring, [Air Force] Global Strike Command has […]

Urenco USA has started producing low-enriched uranium with its second new cascade of gas centrifuges at its enrichment facility in New Mexico, the company said Wednesday. Urenco USA, an affiliate of the European Urenco Group, said it started the cascade ahead of schedule and on budget, according to its Wednesday press release. The newest centrifuge […]

The Government Accountability Office (GAO), in a report published Sep. 5, gave two recommendations for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to meet its goal to upgrade and repair its fusion facilities. The goal, the report said, is to meet a 10-year plan NNSA submitted to Congress in January 2023, requesting $492 million over six […]

The Senate Thursday, after a couple tries and failed attempts, finally voted 53-43 to invoke cloture on restoring en bloc consideration of President Donald Trump’s nominations. The move has implications for the president’s nominees to head nuclear-related offices within the Department of Energy, all of whom have cleared committee but await floor votes. Brandon Williams […]

Progress “has been made” between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency, the nuclear watchdog’s director general Rafael Grossi said in his introductory statement to the Board of Governors meeting Sept. 8 in Vienna. “We have attentively followed the most recent developments in Tehran, in particular the Parliament of Iran’s adoption on 25 June of […]

The Department of Energy announced recently it will provide over $35 million toward 42 projects with aims to advance emerging energy technologies at DOE national laboratories related to nuclear energy and artificial intelligence. The awards were made through DOE’s Technology Commercialization Fund, which has a program in fiscal 2025 called the Core Laboratory Infrastructure for […]

BWX Technologies and Kairos Power have agreed to work together to explore commercial production of tri-structural isotropic (TRISO) fuel to supply Kairos and other customers. Under the agreement, the joint team will explore opportunities to use Kairos’s TRISO Development Lab at its Albuquerque, N.M. campus, BWXT Innovation Campus in Lynchburg, Va. and BWXT’s existing TRISO […]

Five organizations are being tasked with developing missile prototype designs for the nuclear-armed, sea-launched cruise missile program, according to an emailed press release by the National Security Technology Accelerator. The contracting platform National Security Technology Accelerator (NSTXL), upon inquiry from the Exchange Monitor, said Leidos, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman were awarded as prime […]

Los Alamos National Laboratory’s Venado supercomputer has started running a series of OpenAI models to complete national security research for the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile, the Department of Energy announced Aug. 28. The Venado supercomputer, which DOE says is the 19th fastest supercomputer in the world, moved to a classified network earlier this year, according […]

Satellite images show construction has intensified at a facility linked to Israel’s suspected nuclear weapons program, AP News said this week. The images could imply that Israel is “quietly expanding its nuclear arsenal,” the article alleged, adding Israel could face international criticism for growing a secret nuclear program while bombing Iran’s nuclear facilities.  Meanwhile, Israel […]

The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) has tackled all but a few third-party recommendations to improve its culture over the past decade but suffers from a depleted board, according to a new report.  Progress is tough with the five-person board probably slipping to one member, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said in its report […]

The Department of Energy, including its semi-autonomous National Nuclear Security Administration, has taken action to address weaknesses in its unclassified cybersecurity program, according to an August report by the Office of Inspector General. The report, which evaluated the program at 29 DOE locations from January 2024 through May 2025, said that programs and sites, after […]

The Senate voted Thursday to proceed with floor debate on its version of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), with the House to follow next week. The Senate voted 84-to-14 on the motion to invoke cloture, or to initiate the process for a debate on the bill, Tuesday evening. The chamber voted 83-13 to […]

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) officially said alternatives to construction of a new 14-mile powerline would not be a “reliable or redundant” electrical upgrade for Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, according to its floodplain statement of findings. The document outlined alternatives, including using wind, solar, a gas turbine, and even a small […]

In a nail-biting finish, the House passed its version of the fiscal 2026 Energy and Water Appropriations bill on the floor Thursday 214-213 after two days of debate and amendments. The four Republicans that voted against the bill were Reps. Thomas Massie (Ky.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Penn.), Tom McClintock (Calif.) and Scott Perry (Penn.). Not a […]

The E3 countries, consisting of France, Britain and Germany, initiated a process Thursday to reimpose sanctions on Iran through a snapback mechanism in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The U.S. State Department said in a statement that the E3 has “ laid out a clear case of Iran’s continuing ‘significant non-performance’ of its […]

Centrus Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding with two South Korean companies to explore investment in Centrus’ uranium enrichment facilities at the Department of Energy’s Portsmouth Site in Piketon, Ohio. The MOU between Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP), POSCO International and Centrus is non-binding. But the deal also calls for the three companies […]

The Department of Energy has announced the three companies it has conditionally agreed to provide the second round of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) allocation for advanced nuclear projects. The three companies awarded are: Antares Nuclear (based in California) Standard Nuclear (based in Oak Ridge, Tenn.) Abilene Christian University/Natura Resources (based in Texas) Antares Nuclear will […]

A provision in the Senate’s version of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) could protect employees in charge of maintaining the nation’s nuclear weapons from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The Senate Armed Services Committee’s version of the NDAA included a section that, if included in the eventual conference version with the House […]