A nuclear safety watchdog group has obtained a formerly hidden report that challenges federal plans to build plutonium pit production facilities in New Mexico and South Carolina. The document, released under an open records request, states that while plutonium pits are beginning to age, they remain functional for nuclear weapons use. Environmentalists argue this undermines the need for new factories, which could cost over $30 billion. Jay Coghlan of Nuclear Watch New Mexico claims the report supports his stance against the projects, citing environmental risks, proliferation concerns, and potential nuclear testing dangers. The National Nuclear Security Administration disputes the findings, advocating continued production. Critics warn that new facilities could escalate arms races and pose safety hazards from toxic material leaks during underground tests. The debate highlights tensions between national security priorities and environmental safeguards.

The Trump Administration's proposed fiscal year 2027 budget calls for nearly $1.5 trillion in overall military spending, with the Department of Energy receiving $53.9 billion, of which $32.8 billion supports the National Nuclear Security Administration's nuclear weapons activities. This represents a 35% increase in NNSA's total weapons activities to $27.4 billion. The budget accelerates development of several new-design nuclear warheads, including the B61-13 earth-penetrating bomb, W80-4 for air-launched cruise missiles, W87-1 for the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile, and W93 for submarine-launched missiles. Funding for the W87-1 program rises 41% to $913 million, while the W93 increases 37% to $1.1 billion. A new “Future Programs” line item allocates $99.8 million for feasibility studies on additional warheads. Plutonium pit production, essential for triggering nuclear weapons, sees major boosts: an 83% increase to $2.4 billion at Los Alamos National Laboratory and an 87% rise to $2.25 billion at the Savannah River Site, totaling $4.9 billion for plutonium modernization. The administration directs Los Alamos to double output to at least 60 pits per year. Officials state these investments aim to expand nuclear capabilities for deterrence and flexibility, explicitly rejecting minimum-deterrence strategies in favor of counterforce options. The article notes that none of the new pit production supports the existing stockpile's safety, as independent studies indicate pits last at least 100 years, with current averages around 43 years. Critics argue the expansions contradict the 1970 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty’s call for good-faith disarmament negotiations. Other increases include tritium production and non-nuclear components, while cleanup of Cold War nuclear waste faces cuts. The budget also slashes funding for climate research and renewable energy programs. Overall, the proposals signal a continued U.S. commitment to a robust nuclear arsenal amid broader military spending growth and domestic program reductions.