Washington: The Obama Administration has
proposed a USD 11.8 billion for the modernisation and security
of the country`s nuclear arsenal.
Noting that it remains dedicated to modernising
America`s nuclear arsenal and the complex that sustains it, US
President Barack Obama, in his budget sent to the Congress,
proposed USD 11.8 billion for National Nuclear Security
Administration (NNSA).
This investment includes USD 7.6 billion, to maintain
a safe, secure, and effective nuclear arsenal by improving and
replacing ageing facilities and infrastructure, continuing
nuclear weapon life extension programs, and sustaining
stockpile surveillance and certification activities.
The Administration funds USD 2.5 billion to prevent
the proliferation of nuclear weapons by fully funding efforts
to secure and dispose of nuclear material, develop
technologies to detect and deter nuclear testing and
smuggling, and support international nonproliferation
treaties, regulatory controls, and safeguards.
It also proposed USD 1.2 billion for naval reactors,
to include construction of new reactor fuel handling
infrastructure and continued reactor development for a new
ballistic missile submarine to sustain a robust nuclear
deterrent.
The budget also includes USD 31.8 million for the
reorganised chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and
high-yield explosive consequence management structure, which
will be in place prior to the end of 2012.
It also proposed USD 665 million to enhance the
development of next generation medical countermeasures against
chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats; USD
200 million for a public-private partnership of a vaccine
manufacturing facility in support of the Administration`s new
Medical Counter Measure Initiative and USD 138 million to
continue building DOD`s Institute of Infectious Disease at the
new Interagency Biodefense Campus.
The budget proposes USD 97 million to improve the
security of online transactions, enhance cyber security
education efforts, increase cutting-edge cyber security R&D,
and improve network security at small Federal agencies; and
funding to support the full operational capability of the new
US Cyber Command and other programmes to protect the
information networks.
"Moreover, the Administration proposes USD 459 million
to support the operations of the National Cyber Security
Division of the Department of Homeland Security, which will
strengthen the defense of Federal civilian networks and help
to support private sector capabilities as well," it said.
PTI
