GAO examines nuclear proliferation plan costs

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is recommending the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) provide funding estimates for its mandated nuclear proliferation plan.

A federal law introduced in 2015 and 2017 directed the President to submit a proliferation plan to Congress. A 2018 law again directed the President to produce such a plan, which was prepared by the NNSA. The GAO report noted that while most required subjects, such as plans for research and development and international engagement, were included in the prepared plan, it did not include information on costs over the next 10 years.

NNSA officials said the agency did not include long-term costs and funding needs in the plan because identifying the needs is unrealistic because agencies have little influence over the spending priorities of other departments outside of the President’s budget process.

The GAO maintains the NNSA and other agencies already develop plans with long-term funding priorities and cost estimates for other programs. The report also stated that the proliferation plan does not include any estimates on future costs and funding needs, it limits congressional understanding of the long-term affordability of verification, monitoring efforts and funding decisions.

GAO officials have recommended the NNSA Administrator include future cost estimates and funding needed to support the activities in the plan. The NNSA neither agreed nor disagreed with the recommendation, but said it planned no further action.

Officials said the proliferation plan’s four reporting requirements include a roadmap on verification, detection and monitoring efforts, including details on costs and funding needs over 10 years; an international engagement plan; a research and development plan; and a description of interagency engagement.