Nuclear Weapons

The Energy Department's (DOE) nuclear stockpile surveillance program uses various tests to detect problems in the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile, including defects and failures in nuclear weapons systems and components. This program is increasingly critical as weapons in the stockpile age beyond their originally planned lifespan. However, DOE has not done all the tests that it believes are necessary to ensure the reliability of the nuclear weapons in the stockpile. For some types of weapons, the tests are far behind schedule and DOE's confidence in the reliability of these weapons is diminished. DOE has not done the scheduled tests for various reasons, including equipment problems, lack of space on missiles for testing, the absence of a required safety study, and delays in testing while testing operations were being transferred to new locations. Although DOE plans to get some tests back on schedule within a few years, other tests may not be back on schedule for the foreseeable future.