§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 so those programs get proper priority for the Department of Defense and national security. For each fiscal year 2025 through 2030, the Secretary must include with the defense budget materials a report on the budget for these programs. Each report must give an overview that compares the current budget to the previous budget, the most recent and prior Future-Years Defense Program sent to Congress (excluding responsibility for research and development that continues improving these programs), and the amounts actually appropriated in the prior year. The report must show the funding as a clear budget line item, assess major changes, priorities, challenges, and risks, and may include other items the Secretary finds appropriate. Reports must be unclassified but can have a classified annex. Definitions: "Budget" means the annual budget the President sends to Congress. "Defense budget materials" means the supporting documents the Secretary of Defense sends with that budget. "Nuclear command, control, and communications programs" means the programs that carry presidential authority and operational control of nuclear weapons and support senior decisions about using those weapons.