Smarter Approaches to Nuclear Expenditures Act

This bill, S 2930, directly affects U.S. nuclear spending by imposing specific caps and prohibitions on weapons programs to reduce costs. It limits deployed strategic warheads to 1,000 (aligned with New START Treaty levels), caps submarine purchases at eight Columbia-class vessels, restricts ICBMs to 150, and bans funding for new systems like the LGM-35 Sentinel ICBM, F-35 nuclear capability, low-yield warheads, and the Uranium Processing Facility. The bill requires annual reports to Congress on implementation and cost savings, aiming to cut projected nuclear modernization costs by billions over the next decade. These changes apply to the Department of Defense and Energy budgets starting in fiscal year 2026.