Title 50, War and National DefenseRelease 119-110

§2404 Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs

Title 50 › CHAPTER 41 — NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION › SUBCHAPTER I — ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANIZATION › § 2404

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Creates a Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs, who the President names and the Senate must approve. Under the Administrator, the Deputy must do assigned duties, especially keeping the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile safe, reliable, and secure — including design, production, and testing as needed — and overseeing production sites and national labs.

Full Legal Text

Title 50, §2404

War and National Defense, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general
There is in the Administration a Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs, who is appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
(b)Duties
Subject to the authority, direction, and control of the Administrator, the Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs shall perform such duties and exercise such powers as the Administrator may prescribe, including the following:
(1)Supporting the deterrence of strategic attacks by maintaining and enhancing the performance, reliability, and security of the United States nuclear weapons stockpile, including the ability to design, produce, and test as necessary to meet national security requirements.
(2)Directing, managing, and overseeing the nuclear weapons production facilities and the national security laboratories.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2024—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 118–159 added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: “Maintaining and enhancing the safety, reliability, and performance of the United States nuclear weapons stockpile, including the ability to design, produce, and test, in order to meet national security requirements.” 2023—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 118–31 struck out par. (3) which read as follows: “Directing, managing, and overseeing assets to respond to incidents involving nuclear weapons and materials.” 2001—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 107–107 struck out heading and text of subsec. (c). Text read as follows: “The head of each national security laboratory and nuclear weapons production facility shall, consistent with applicable contractual obligations, report to the Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective Mar. 1, 2000, see section 3299 of Pub. L. 106–65, set out as a note under section 2401 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

50 U.S.C. § 2404

Title 50, War and National Defense

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110