Nuclear Weapon Funding in US Defense Budget

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The United States is currently spending $35 Billion a year; which is 14% of the defense budget, or it is $96 million a day, because of the nuclear efforts of which about $25 million goes for operation and maintenance for the nuclear arsenal. The rest of the money is spent on cleanup, arms control verification, and ballistic missile research, which all of that, just adds to the cost greatly. President Obama revealed a budget that includes more than $220 million in cuts for nuclear security programs in the next fiscal year. One of the largest reductions is going to come to the International Material Protection and Cooperation program, and which it works to secure and eliminate the vulnerable nuclear weapons and materials. President Obama asked for $ 3.5 million or $114 million less than was appropriated in the 2014 budget. President Obama has also requested $108 million less than was appropriated last year for the Global Threat Reduction Initiative; this is a program that actually plays a key part in the “Energy Department’s effort at preventing terrorist from obtaining nuclear and radiological materials that could be used in weapons of mass destruction” (Silverberg). Should the U.S. Congress amend the D.O.D. Appropriations Act of 2015 to eliminate funding for nuclear weapons production? “President Obama’s FY2014 base budget request of $552.0 billion in discretionary budget Authority for the Department of Defense (DOD) and defense-related programs of other agencies (excluding war costs), exceeded by $53.9 billion the legally binding cap on defense funding for FY2014 that was enacted in 2011 as part of the BCA.” Similarly, in their initial actions on the annual defense funding bills for FY2014, the House and the Armed Servi... ... middle of paper ... ...amatic Reduction in Nuclear Weapons : News Headlines." - Catholic Culture. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2014 "Thank You! Over 50,000 Persons Urged President Obama to Change Outdated Nuclear Policy." Thank You! Over 50,000 Persons Urged President Obama to Change Outdated Nuclear Policy. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2014 "USCCB Urges Senate Vote against Nuclear Weapons Research." USCCB Urges Senate Vote against Nuclear Weapons Research. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2014 "Bishops, Policy Specialists, Other Catholic Leaders Convene Renewed Effort on Nuclear Disarmament at Stanford University." Truth in Love Reflecting the Good News of Christ RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2014 "USCCB Renews Call for Nuclear Arms Reduction : News Headlines." - Catholic Culture. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2014. "U.S. Bishops Urge Support for Nuclear Weapons Pact." America Staging. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2014

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