U.S. Nuclear Force Modernization Hits $946 Billion 

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United States: The Congressional Budget Office expects nuclear force operating and modernization expenses will surpass $946 billion by 2034 thus increasing by 25% from 2023 values. The cost projection does not account for the 81% additional expenses from the Sentinel program which aims to develop new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) for replacing Trident III missiles, as reported by Reuters. 

Challenges Ahead for the Trump Administration 

Supporting two expensive goals simultaneously poses difficulties for President Donald Trump because he needs to boost defense spending to $1 trillion during fiscal 2026. Nuclear weapon spending in the U.S. divides between federal agencies by having both the Department of Energy and the Pentagon manage separate budgets.

Escalating Nuclear Modernization Costs 

According to Daryl Kimball who leads the Arms Control Association the costs of nuclear modernization have surged past all forecasted expectations. The Congressional Budget Office predicts that Congress will need to determine the extent of U.S. nuclear forces growth as well as their modernization trajectory in upcoming years. 

Trump’s Strategy and International Concerns 

While President Trump has yet to unveil his nuclear weapons strategy, he has expressed concerns over the high costs of developing new nuclear weapons. Trump has also shown interest in negotiating arms control deals with China, as the country’s atomic stockpile continues to grow, though still smaller in scale than that of the U.S. and Russia, as reported by Reuters. 

Projected Costs of Nuclear Modernization 

According to CBO findings the United States will allocate $946 billion between 2023 and 2034 to nuclear force modernization that will encompass Sentinel ICBM development and enhancements to Pentagon nuclear systems and DOE production facilities. The revised projection extends its analysis period by two more years beyond prior projections.