§239e Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications: Major Force Program and Budget Assessment

Summary

The Secretary of Defense must create one unified major force program for nuclear command, control, and communications under section 222(b). This program will put those systems in order of priority for the Department of Defense and national security. For each fiscal year 2025 through 2030, the Secretary must send a report with the defense budget materials about the budget for these programs. Each report must give an overview that compares the budget to the previous budget, the most recent and prior future-years defense program submitted under section 221 (excluding responsibility for research and development of continuing improvements), and the amounts appropriated last year. The report must show the funding as a specific budget line item, assess major changes, priorities, challenges, and risks, and may include other items the Secretary decides. Reports must be unclassified but may have a classified annex. Definitions (one line each): "budget" — the yearly budget sent to Congress by the President under 31 U.S.C. 1105(a). "defense budget materials" — materials the Secretary of Defense sends to support that budget. "nuclear command, control, and communications programs" — the systems and programs that carry out presidential authority and operational command and control of nuclear weapons, including tools that help senior leaders decide about using nuclear weapons.