Denouncing further spending on the nuclear Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program as unnecessary, costly, and promoting a nuclear arms race, U.S. Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) has introduced legislation to pause development until 2031 and extend the lifespan of existing weapons.
“As a Chairman of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness with over a decade of experience overseeing U.S. military policy in Congress, I have studied this issue at length and worked with key personnel responsible for executing U.S. nuclear modernization efforts,” Garamendi said. “Through this work, I’ve learned that America’s nuclear modernization strategy has evolved from a strategy predicated on deterrence to one based on dominance. Deploying the GBSD exacerbates this dangerous trend and saddles the American taxpayer with a new, multidecade investment in an unnecessary warhead.”
The U.S. Air Force confirmed last year that an extension of the Minuteman III missiles would be feasible. As such, the Investing in Commonsense Ballistic Missiles (ICBM) Act of 2021 wants their service extended until 2040. GBSD was supposed to replace them. That would also pause the development of the W87-1 warhead, which is currently being developed for the GBSD program. However, Garamendi says that move would save taxpayers at least $12 billion — in addition to the estimated GBSD procurement costs of $95 billion.
“Supporters of the current modernization approach tell us that the only choice is to proceed full steam ahead with the current modernization plans or allow our arsenal to rust into obsolescence,” Garamendi said. “This is a false choice.”
Instead, extending the Minuteman III program would cost taxpayers approximately $37 billion less than developing and deploying the GBSD through 2036. In Garamendi’s view, it would also pull the U.S. back to a policy of deterrence.
The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA), Don Beyer (D-VA), James McGovern (D-MA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), and Bill Foster (D-IL). It has also been backed by organizations including Foreign Policy for America, the Arms Control Association, the Council for a Livable World, and the Union of Concerned Scientists.