How Much Does the US Spend on Nuclear Weapons?
The United States spends over $60 billion every year to maintain and modernize its nuclear arsenal of 5,044 warheads. This includes building entirely new ICBMs, submarines, and bombers in a modernization program estimated at $1.5-2 trillion over 30 years. That's the cost of maintaining the ability to destroy human civilization several times over.
The Arsenal
Annual Spending Breakdown
Designing, building, and maintaining nuclear warheads at Los Alamos, Sandia, Y-12, Pantex
Building new Columbia-class SSBNs and operating existing Ohio-class
Sentinel development + maintaining 400 Minuteman III missiles
B-21 Raider production + B-52 upgrades for nuclear mission
Satellite systems, early warning, presidential command links
Cleaning up contaminated Cold War production sites
Major Modernization Programs
The US is replacing all three legs of its nuclear triad simultaneously — the most expensive nuclear undertaking since the Manhattan Project.
| Program | Est. Cost | Replaces | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sentinel ICBM (LGM-35A) | $141B | Minuteman III | Over budget, under review |
| Columbia-class SSBN | $132B | Ohio-class | First hull under construction |
| B-21 Raider | $80B | B-2 Spirit | Flight testing |
| W93 Warhead | $15B | W76 | Design phase |
| W87-1 Warhead | $14B | W78 | Development |
| Long-Range Standoff Weapon | $10B | ALCM | Development |
The Case Against
Does America need 5,044 nuclear warheads? Experts across the political spectrum have argued that a few hundred warheads — enough to guarantee devastating retaliation — provide the same deterrence as thousands. The current arsenal could destroy every major city on Earth multiple times.
The $1.5-2 trillion modernization program is being built on Cold War assumptions about needing a massive triad. A submarine-based deterrent alone — virtually undetectable — could provide nuclear deterrence at a fraction of the cost. The Sentinel ICBM program alone is $45 billion over budget and arguably unnecessary when submarines already guarantee second-strike capability.
At $60+ billion per year, the nuclear arsenal costs more than the entire budgets of the Department of Education ($82B), EPA ($12B), and NASA ($25B) combined. That's the price of maintaining weapons we can never use.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the US spend on nuclear weapons per year?
The US spends approximately $60-65 billion per year on nuclear weapons as of 2026. This includes the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) budget (~$25 billion), Pentagon nuclear delivery systems (~$30 billion), and nuclear command and control (~$7 billion).
How many nuclear weapons does the US have?
The US maintains approximately 5,044 nuclear warheads as of 2026, of which roughly 1,700 are deployed on strategic delivery systems. The remaining warheads are in storage or awaiting dismantlement.
How much will the nuclear modernization cost in total?
The 30-year nuclear modernization program (2020-2050) is estimated to cost $1.5-2 trillion in total. This includes new Sentinel ICBMs ($141B), Columbia-class submarines ($132B), B-21 bombers ($80B+), and new warhead designs.
What is the most expensive nuclear weapons program?
The Sentinel ICBM (replacing Minuteman III) is the most expensive single program at $141 billion, up from original estimates of $96 billion — a 46% cost overrun that breached the Nunn-McCurdy threshold. The Columbia-class submarine program is close behind at $132 billion for 12 boats.
How does US nuclear spending compare to other countries?
The US spends more on nuclear weapons than all other nuclear powers combined. Russia spends an estimated $10-15 billion, China $15 billion, the UK $8 billion, and France $6 billion annually. The US has 5,044 warheads vs. Russia's 5,580.
Related Pages
Sources
- • Congressional Budget Office — “Projected Costs of U.S. Nuclear Forces” (2024)
- • National Nuclear Security Administration — FY2026 Budget Request
- • Federation of American Scientists — Nuclear Notebook
- • Arms Control Association — US Nuclear Weapons Factsheet
- • Government Accountability Office — Sentinel ICBM Cost Review