U.S. Spends $52 Billion a Year on Nuclear Weapons

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

The United States spends at least $52.4 billion a year on nuclear weapons-related expenses. According to a report by the Carnegie Endowment, of this total, 56% ($29 billion) goes to operating, maintaining and upgrading the U.S. nuclear arsenal. Only 1.3% ($700 million) is spent on preparing the nation for the consequences of a nuclear of radiological attack. Nuclear weapons-related expenses account for two-thirds of the budget of the Department of Energy and even 8.5% of the budget of the FBI. The U.S. continues to spend more than $8 billion a year on the consequences of past production and testing of nuclear weapons, including cleanup and disposal and victim compensation.

 
 
 
 
Nuclear Spending: Assessing Costs, Examining Priorities (by Stephen I. Schwartz and Deepti Choubey, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)

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