Congress Rejects Biden’s Nuclear Rollback

Russia is modernizing its nuclear weapons while saber-rattling on NATO’s eastern front, and China is in the middle of a nuclear strategic breakout while threatening Taiwan. Nevertheless, President Joe Biden wants the United States to roll back efforts to improve its nuclear deterrent — but in a remarkable act of bipartisanship, Congress has refused Biden’s plans for the rollback.

The Biden budget zeroed out funding for a weapon system meant to convince adversaries that a limited nuclear employment in a regional conflict would not be worthwhile. When congressmen questioned the Biden administration’s desired cut at such an inauspicious time, senior military leaders uniformly opposed Biden’s decision. Now Congress is restoring the program.

About the Author

Rebeccah Heinrichs

Rebeccah Heinrichs is a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and the director of Hudson’s Keystone Defense Initiative.

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Russia is modernizing its nuclear weapons while saber-rattling on NATO’s eastern front, and China is in the middle of a nuclear strategic breakout while threatening Taiwan. Nevertheless, President Joe Biden wants the United States to roll back efforts to improve its nuclear deterrent — but in a remarkable act of bipartisanship, Congress has refused Biden’s plans for the rollback.

The Biden budget zeroed out funding for a weapon system meant to convince adversaries that a limited nuclear employment in a regional conflict would not be worthwhile. When congressmen questioned the Biden administration’s desired cut at such an inauspicious time, senior military leaders uniformly opposed Biden’s decision. Now Congress is restoring the program.