Smarter Approaches to Nuclear Expenditures Act

The Smarter Approaches to Nuclear Expenditures Act (S 1754) imposes specific spending limits and prohibitions on U.S. nuclear weapons programs to address cost concerns. It caps deployed strategic warheads at 1,000 (aligned with New START Treaty definitions), limits submarines to eight Columbia-class vessels, restricts intercontinental ballistic missiles to 150, and bans funding for new systems like the F-35 nuclear mission, W76-2 warheads, LGM-35 Sentinel ICBMs, and new submarine-launched cruise missiles. The bill also prohibits expansion of plutonium pit production without congressional reporting and bans the W-93 warhead and space-based missile defense development. Required reports will track implementation, cost savings, and annual nuclear program spending to ensure accountability.