[Senate Hearing 117-]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


 
    ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023

                              ----------                              


                        WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2022

                                       U.S. Senate,
           Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations,
                                                    Washington, DC.
    The subcommittee met at 10:04 a.m. in room SD-192, Dirksen 
Senate Office Building, Hon. Dianne Feinstein (chairwoman) 
presiding.
    Present: Senators Feinstein, Heinrich, Kennedy, and 
Hagerty.

                          DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

                National Nuclear Security Administration

STATEMENT OF HON. JILL HRUBY, UNDER SECRETARY FOR 
            NUCLEAR SECURITY AND ADMINISTRATOR
ACCOMPANIED BY:
        HON. MARVIN L. ADAMS, PH.D., DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR DEFENSE 
            PROGRAMS
        HON. COREY HINDERSTEIN, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR DEFENSE 
            NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION
        ADMIRAL JAMES F. CALDWELL, JR., DIRECTOR, NAVAL NUCLEAR 
            PROPULSION PROGRAM, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


             opening statement of senator dianne feinstein


    Senator Feinstein. The Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development will come to order.
    Today's hearing is going to review the National Nuclear 
Security Administration's fiscal year 2023 budget request.
    So thank you, Administrator Hruby and your colleagues for 
joining us today.
    The budget request for NNSA (National Nuclear Security 
Administration) totals $21.4 billion. That's a $754.4 million 
or a 3.6 percent increase over fiscal year 2022. I can say it's 
an all-time high once again.
    The Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Programs, which 
successfully reduce nuclear dangers, are essentially held flat. 
For such accomplished programs, I would expect to see some 
greater investment but just a few key nonproliferation 
achievements include the elimination of over 7,230 kilograms of 
weapons-usable nuclear material from 48 countries, deployment 
of 930 counter-nuclear smuggling systems across 79 countries, 
and compilation of the 238 Cesium Irradiator Replacement 
Project, their removals from U.S. hospitals and universities.
    While nonproliferation programs are held flat, the Weapons 
Activities Account sees a $566.2 million or 3.5 percent 
increase. Both are budget allocations and the Nuclear Weapons 
Complex itself will increasingly struggle to accommodate an 
over-taxed system. So I expect this Administration to really 
make thoughtful choices.
    I'm concerned about plutonium pit production. NNSA is 
required to make 80 pits per year by 2030 but acknowledged it 
would miss that deadline by anywhere from 2 to 5 years.
    While NNSA's fiscal year 2023 budget calls for a $2.4 
billion increase for pit production modernization and 
infrastructure, it's clear that increased funding year after 
year is not going to solve systemic problems.
    So I look forward to hearing you discuss with us how we can 
confront our nuclear deterrence and budgetary challenges 
together. I think that's most important and I thank everyone 
for being here.
    The distinguished Ranking Member Kennedy will now have an 
opening statement and then we will turn to Administrator Hruby 
to present testimony on behalf of NNSA.
    Thank you.


                   statement of senator john kennedy


    Senator Kennedy. Thank you, Madam Chair.
    Madam Administrator, thank you for being here. Thanks to 
all of our witnesses.
    I can't think of an agency more important than the Nuclear 
Security Administration, especially now.
    This proposed budget is not adequate. It's just not. I know 
there's a slight increase in funding, but I tell you what's not 
slight, the risks that the world faces today that have been 
extraordinarily enhanced in the last 3-4 months.
    I mean, anybody with a brain above a single cell organism, 
which is most Americans, can see what's going on in the world. 
President Putin is working with President Xi, is working with 
the Ayatollah in Iran. I think President Xi is the quarterback 
but the other two players are critical members of the team. I 
think their goal is to have Russia dominate Central and Eastern 
Europe. I think their goal is to have China dominate the Indo-
Pacific and be allowed to roam free in at least Sub-Saharan 
Africa and maybe all of Africa and also make moves in South 
America, and I think their goal is to have the Ayatollah in 
Iran dominate the Middle East.
    Now I view all of this through the lens of the security of 
the United States of America. I do not want America to have to 
be the world's policemen, but I don't want Russia and China and 
the Ayatollah to be the world's policemen either.
    This budget, proposed budget eliminates two weapon systems. 
It underfunds programs vital to our national security. Our 
distinguished Chair mentioned plutonium pit production. This 
proposed budget eliminates the tactical submarine-launched 
cruise missile, not acceptable. It's going to retire the B83 
Gravity Bomb. It's got inadequate funding for plutonium pit 
modernization.
    We can do better. American people deserve better, and I'm 
hoping we can talk about that today. But thank you all for 
being here and thank you, thank you to our Chair. I'm sitting 
close to her. I'm hoping some of that wisdom and experience 
permeates over this way----
    Senator Feinstein. Oh, wow.
    Senator Kennedy [continuing.] And I mean that. I mean that.
    I sit on Judiciary and the Senator was Chairman of our 
Judiciary Committee for a long time and I had the wonderful 
experience of being there with her for that, too.
    So I'm done, Madam Chair.
    Senator Feinstein. Thank you.
    We will turn over to our witnesses. I think Administrator 
Hruby.


                  summary statement of hon. jill hruby


    Ms. Hruby. Thank you. Thank you, Chairwoman Feinstein, 
Ranking Member Kennedy, and Members of the Subcommittee for the 
opportunity to present the President's fiscal year 2023 budget 
request for the Department of Energy's National Nuclear 
Security Administration.
    We're grateful for the committee's enduring bipartisan 
support.
    Chairwoman Feinstein, a written statement has been provided 
to the subcommittee and I respectfully request that it be 
submitted for the record.
    Senator Feinstein. So ordered.
    Ms. Hruby. NNSA's fiscal year 2023 budget request, as 
mentioned, is $21.4 billion. This request is consistent with 
our expanded mission and the increasing pace of program 
deliverables as described in the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review.
    In today's geopolitical environment, this budget reflects a 
responsive and responsible path forward.
    The weapons activities request is $16.5 billion, supporting 
five warhead modernization program, significant infrastructure 
recapitalization, and science-based stockpile stewardship.
    NNSA is currently engaged in the simultaneous execution of 
our largest weapon modernization program effort in decades and 
an overhaul of our aging infrastructure. This approach carries 
risk but we are positioned to succeed and we are making 
progress.
    The W88 Alt 370 and the B61-12 have achieved first 
production and are on track to meet DoD (Department of Defense) 
deliverables. The W80-4, the W87-1, and the W93 are in various 
phases of design and will enter production in the 2020s and 
2030s. When complete, these programs, coupled with the DoD 
platform modernization, will update all three legs of the 
Nuclear Triad.
    On the infrastructure front, the Uranium Processing 
Facility is fully enclosed with a projection completion date of 
2026 and the 90 percent designs are underway for our future pit 
production facilities at Los Alamos and Savannah River.
    Additionally, our innovative approaches on non-nuclear 
construction have demonstrated shortened schedule and reduced 
costs. We intend to build on these successes going forward.
    Our scientific achievements in stockpile understanding 
continue and we intend to build on decades of success. This 
budget continues funding for the enhanced capabilities for 
subcritical experiments, inertial confinement fusion, exascale 
computing, and other key capabilities.
    The Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation budget request of $2.3 
billion demonstrates the Administration's commitment to 
reducing global nuclear threats and is an essential complement 
to the weapons activities.
    Through judicious use of prior year funding, we have a 
stable budget that enables targeted increases in high-priority 
projects. We continue to believe that it is easier to prevent a 
threat than to roll one back and that technical cooperation on 
nonproliferation, counterterrorism, and counter-proliferation 
with global allies and partners enhances our national security.
    Such preemptive action and cooperation have been especially 
important in response to the invasion of Ukraine. In 2012, NNSA 
removed over 234 kilograms of highly-enriched uranium from 
Ukraine. Clearly the risks on the ground are lower today as a 
result.
    More recently, NNSA personnel have been engaged in 
monitoring Ukraine's nuclear facilities and are in close 
contact with Ukrainian, regional, and IAEA (International 
Atomic Energy Agency) officials. As a result, we are providing 
validated data to assist U.S. decision-makers.
    NNSA is increasing our support of nuclear power as a clean 
energy source to combat climate change. We are expanding our 
efforts in safeguards and security by design for advanced 
reactors and are working to supply high-assay low-enriched 
uranium to support the development of advanced reactors in 
partnership with DOE (Department of Energy) Nuclear Energy.
    The Naval Reactors budget request of $2.1 billion will 
support our nuclear-powered fleet. Progress on Columbia Class 
submarine propulsion, ongoing construction of the Spent Fuel 
Handling Facility, and expanded research and development are 
all key factors in retaining our qualitative advantage and 
naval capability for the current and future fleet.
    Finally, we recognize that our people are the backbone of 
our enterprise. NNSA's Federal salaries and expenses budget 
request of $496 million will be used to recruit, retain, and 
support 1,958 Federal employees.
    Today, NNSA faces mission requirements as difficult as any 
in its history. With your continued support, we will deliver.
    Thank you and I look forward to your questions.
    [The statements follow:]
                 Prepared Statement of Hon. Jill Hruby
    Chairman Feinstein, Ranking Member Kennedy, and Members of the 
Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to present the President's 
fiscal year 2023 budget for the Department of Energy's (DOE) National 
Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). NNSA greatly appreciates the 
Committee's bipartisan support for our nuclear security mission and for 
the talented and dedicated workforce responsible for carrying it out 
every day.
    The Department meets its enduring national security mission by 
maintaining and modernizing the nuclear weapons stockpile so that it is 
always safe, secure, reliable, and effective; by reducing global 
nuclear threats; and by providing the U.S. Navy's nuclear-powered 
submarines and aircraft carriers with militarily effective propulsion 
systems. NNSA remains uniquely qualified to fulfill these tasks on 
behalf of the American people and in support of our allies and 
partners.
    The NNSA fiscal year 2023 budget request is informed by the 2022 
Nuclear Posture Review and reflects today's increasingly complex 
geopolitical environment. Importantly, the budget request provides full 
support for the significant nuclear weapons design and production 
required to modernize all three legs of the nuclear triad. Once 
complete, this effort will provide the U.S. with a safer, more secure, 
and more reliable stockpile that, together with the Department of 
Defense (DoD) modernization programs, will provide the U.S. with a 
modern nuclear deterrent capable of responding to a wider array of 
challenges. The fiscal year 2023 budget request also includes continued 
funding for the NNSA infrastructure revitalization program needed to 
produce the weapons and materials for the planned program of record and 
create an enterprise that is more resilient and flexible. Funding for 
research, technology, and engineering needed for stockpile 
certification and innovation activities is maintained in the request.
    At the same time, the fiscal year 2023 budget request recognizes we 
must press ahead with our nuclear nonproliferation and nuclear 
counterterrorism and counterproliferation efforts as a complementary 
approach to respond to geopolitical realities. These programs continue 
efforts to implement and support robust security and safeguards for 
nuclear materials; shift commercial, research, and medical industries 
away from highly radioactive materials and technologies; and develop 
technologies for early detection of proliferation activity. This 
request recognizes the increased efforts required as nuclear power 
expands around the world in response to climate change, and as Russia, 
China, and North Korea continue to diversify and expand their nuclear 
arsenals.
    The NNSA budget request provides the support needed for Naval 
Reactors to continue work designing, producing, operating, and 
maintaining the nuclear propulsion plants for U.S. nuclear submarines 
and aircraft carriers. The request also fully supports three critical 
initiatives: the COLUMBIA-class ballistic missile submarine reactor 
systems development; construction of the Naval Spent Fuel Handling 
Facility; and the refueling and overhaul of the land-based reactor for 
continued training and technology testing.
    In today's multipolar and more aggressive geopolitical environment, 
it is imperative that NNSA is both responsive to needs and acts 
responsibly to avoid escalation or arms racing while preparing for an 
uncertain future. Our budget request reflects this balance, and our 
work has never been more critical to global stability.
                     nnsa's accomplishments in 2021
    Last year, NNSA achieved several key milestones across the nuclear 
security enterprise despite the unprecedented circumstances COVID-19 
presented.
    Life Extension and Weapons Modernization Programs: In 2021, NNSA 
completed first production units (FPU) for the W88 Alteration (Alt) 370 
and the B61-12 Life Extension programs. Both refurbished weapons have 
increased safety and reliability.
    Large Line-Item Construction: NNSA has three large line-item 
construction projects for nuclear materials underway: two projects 
associated with plutonium pit production--one at Los Alamos National 
Laboratory and one at the Savannah River Site--and one project 
associated with uranium processing at the Y-12 National Security 
Complex.
    The Los Alamos Plutonium Pit Production Project (LAP4) received 
Critical Decision (CD)-1 approval in April 2021. The Savannah River 
Plutonium Processing Facility (SRPPF) received CD-1 approval in June 
2021. CD-1 approval marks completion of a project's definition phase 
and the conceptual design as part of DOE's Order 413.3B process for the 
acquisition of capital assets. Clearing the CD-1 process allows NNSA to 
establish 90 percent design and associated cost estimation during the 
subsequent CD-2 effort.
    The Uranium Processing Facility (UPF), consisting of seven 
subprojects, has completed three projects on schedule and under budget 
and the final four are underway. During 2021, significant construction 
activity continued and led to the successful full enclosure of all 
buildings in April 2022, setting the stage for equipment installation.
    National Ignition Facility (NIF): In August, the National Ignition 
Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory achieved a 
breakthrough with an experiment that yielded more than 1.3 megajoules 
of energy and resulted in a burning plasma state for the first time in 
any fusion research facility. Burning plasma research is needed for 
high fidelity modeling of nuclear weapons and is one of the milestones 
needed to achieve self-sustaining energy production.
    Secure Transportation: The Office of Secure Transportation 
accomplished 100 percent of its assigned missions safely and securely 
with no mission degradation despite operational challenges present from 
COVID-19.
    Infrastructure Innovation: NNSA purchased the LeMond Carbon 
Facility in Oak Ridge, TN to replace facilities at Y-12 built in the 
1940s used for process development. Use of NNSA's purchase authority 
for acquisitions allows us to accelerate delivery of modern facilities 
without the need for new construction.
    To support our climate goals, NNSA placed lease orders with the 
General Services Administration to replace gas-powered cars with 
approximately 50 zero-emissions vehicles, nearly doubling the size of 
electric-powered cars in NNSA's fleet.
    Nuclear Material Disposal and Reduction: NNSA converted an 
additional 91 kilograms of plutonium to an oxide form, for a cumulative 
total of 1,187 kilograms, in preparation for final disposition, 
continued downblending excess plutonium, and completed construction of 
a characterization and storage pad for the first shipment of 
downblended plutonium from the Savannah River Site to the Waste 
Isolation Pilot Plant. Additionally, the Secretaries of Energy and 
Health and Humans Services jointly certified that global supplies of 
molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) produced without the use of highly enriched 
uranium (HEU) can meet the needs of patients in the U.S. This critical 
milestone in nonproliferation efforts also triggered a congressionally 
mandated ban on exports of HEU for foreign medical isotope production.
    Global Material Security: NNSA conducted over 75 cyber engagements 
with international partners to enhance security of nuclear facilities 
and materials. Partnerships were also started with several domestic 
advanced reactor vendors for `security-by-design' activities to enhance 
the security of the systems for both domestic and international use. 
NNSA replaced 50 devices (39 domestically and 11 internationally) that 
use high-activity radioactive sources with non-radioisotopic 
alternative technologies and secured 48 buildings (28 domestically and 
20 internationally) with high priority radioactive sources. In 
addition, since the start of 2021, NNSA has signed new counter 
radioactive material smuggling arrangements with Estonia's Ministry of 
Interior, Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ukraine's State 
Security Service, Mexico's National Commission for Nuclear Security and 
Safeguards, Niger's High Atomic Energy Authority, and Morocco's 
Gendarmerie.
    Counterterrorism: NNSA's Nuclear Emergency Support Team (NEST) 
conducted dozens of operations, including preventative radiological/
nuclear detection support to the Presidential Inauguration, 
Presidential Address to a Joint Session of Congress, New Year's Eve 
celebrations in Las Vegas and New York City, Super Bowl LV, the Fourth 
of July celebration on the National Mall, and the 76th Session of the 
United Nations General Assembly. Additionally, NNSA conducted 50 
virtual workshops with U.S. public information officers, law 
enforcement, first responders, and technical experts concerning 
radiological counterterrorism to build capacity and improve crisis and 
risk communication.
    Workforce Development: NNSA achieved its highest Federal workforce 
level since 2013 with a total of 1,825 Federal employees onboard. To 
help develop the next-generation workforce, NNSA awarded 13 Minority 
Serving Institution Partnership Program grants for a total of 24 
consortia grants to reach tens of thousands of students in STEM 
disciplines.
                 nnsa's fiscal year 2023 budget request
    The President's fiscal year 2023 budget request for NNSA is $21.4 
billion, an increase of $1.0 billion, or 5.1 percent, over the fiscal 
year 2022 enacted level. Funding levels do not reflect the mandated 
transfer of $92.75 million in fiscal year 2022 to the Office of Nuclear 
Energy for operation of the Advanced Test Reactor. This funding request 
reflects the expanded mission in NNSA and the need for accelerated 
delivery of the modernization and infrastructure programs. The three 
NNSA missions--the nuclear deterrent, nuclear security and 
nonproliferation, and naval nuclear propulsion--have key deliverables 
in fiscal year 2023. In addition, the capabilities to position NNSA to 
be successful in the future must be nurtured. We are grateful for the 
sustained, bipartisan commitment by Congress and multiple 
administrations and ask for continued support.
                    weapons activities appropriation
    The fiscal year 2023 budget request for the Weapons Activities 
account is $16.5 billion, an increase of $566 million, or 3.7 percent 
over the fiscal year 2022 enacted levels. The request will be 
supplemented with prior year balances of $396 million. This budget 
request represents the Administration's continued strong commitment to 
a safe, secure, reliable, and effective nuclear deterrent backed by 
resilient, flexible infrastructure along with cutting edge science, 
cyber security, and physical protection.
    NNSA is fully aware that delivering the deterrent and capabilities 
our nation needs to respond to the current environment requires a 
faster pace and a more complete modernization of weapons than over the 
last several decades. That is why we are re-establishing production 
capabilities lost in the 1990s and overhauling both our physical 
infrastructure and human capital to retain technical advantages and 
build resilience into our enterprise. NNSA is looking forward to 
overcoming obstacles and building on the successes of the previous 
year.
    The fiscal year 2023 request reflects the need to advance the 
weapons modernization programs and production capacity at an 
accelerated pace. The Weapons Activities account includes:
  --Stockpile Management: Maintenance and modernization of nuclear 
        weapons and production operations to sustain confidence in the 
        safety, security, reliability, and military effectiveness of 
        the stockpile without resuming nuclear explosive testing and 
        associated activities.
  --Production and Infrastructure Modernization: Investment in NNSA's 
        infrastructure to rebuild capabilities lost in the 1990s and 
        revitalize and expand the capacity of other elements to support 
        stockpile modernization and science. These projects range from 
        significant line-item construction for Plutonium and Uranium 
        related activities to minor construction of offices and light 
        labs to operational infrastructure such as electrical and 
        networking utilities.
  --Stockpile Research, Technology, and Engineering: Continued 
        development of state-of-the-art scientific, engineering, and 
        manufacturing capabilities to enable continuous improvement in 
        design, certification, and production of the enduring nuclear 
        weapons stockpile and to stay ahead of the threat.
  --Transportation, Nuclear, and Cyber Security: Keeping pace with 
        evolving threats and sustaining transportation, cyber and 
        physical security across the nuclear security enterprise to 
        improve resilience.
    NNSA restructured the Weapons Activities budget in fiscal year 2021 
to enable better alignment of portfolios with resources. This allowed 
improved prioritization within portfolios that have multiple programs 
and interdependencies. Further refinements are proposed in fiscal year 
2023 to align programmatic construction with the portfolio each project 
supports. Comparisons throughout the Weapons Activities portfolio 
assume this alignment in the fiscal year 2022 enacted levels as well.
Stockpile Management
    The fiscal year 2023 Stockpile Management budget request is $4.9 
billion, an increase of $291 million, or 6.3 percent, over the fiscal 
year 2022 enacted level. This portfolio covers the maintenance of a 
safe, secure, reliable, and militarily effective nuclear weapons 
stockpile. Activities include life extension programs (LEP) and other 
weapons modernization activities; surveillance, minor alterations, and 
limited life component exchanges; providing the safe dismantlement of 
nuclear weapons and components; and providing sustainment of needed 
manufacturing capabilities and capacities. The fiscal year 2023 request 
also includes funding for Nuclear Enterprise Assurance (NEA) to 
prevent, detect, and mitigate subversion risks to the nuclear weapons 
stockpile and associated design, production, and testing capabilities.
    W88 Alteration (Alt) 370: NNSA expects the W88 Alt 370 program to 
enter Phase 6.6, Full-Scale Production, in July 2022. Production is 
currently on schedule to meet DoD deployment schedules.
    B61-12 LEP: NNSA expects the B61-12 LEP to enter Phase 6.6, Full-
Scale Production, in June 2022. The B61-12 LEP consolidates multiple 
variants of the B61 gravity bomb and improves the safety and security 
of the weapon. Production is currently on schedule to meet DoD 
deployment schedules.
    W80-4 LEP: NNSA is continuing Phase 6.3 activities, Development 
Engineering, and plans to enter Phase 6.4, Production Engineering, in 
fiscal year 2023. The W80-4 FPU date is currently being re-evaluated 
due to COVID-19 impacts, slower than planned hiring and increased 
attrition, and component technical challenges. The updated FPU schedule 
will be developed by mid-2022. NNSA's revised schedule is expected to 
support the U.S. Air Force's (USAF) schedule for Long Range Standoff 
missile initial operating capability.
    W87-1 Modification Program: The W87-1 will replace the aging W78 
warhead using a modification of the existing W87-0 design. The W87-1 
will deploy new technologies that improve safety and security, address 
obsolete designs and materials, and simplify warhead manufacturability. 
The fiscal year 2023 budget request supports NNSA's commitment for a 
planned FPU in fiscal year 2030 to meet DoD's scheduled deployment of 
the Sentinel missile. The request supports Phase 6.3, Development 
Engineering, activities including joint testing with USAF Sentinel 
missile and Mk21A reentry vehicle program and conducting the Conceptual 
Design Review. NNSA plans to enter Phase 6.3 in fiscal year 2022.
    W93/Mk7: In February 2022, the NWC voted to authorize the W93's 
entry into Phase 2, Feasibility Study and Design Options. NNSA's fiscal 
year 2023 funding request will support the Phase 2 activities including 
further examination of design concepts from Phase 1, and down-selection 
to desired weapon design(s) to be subsequently developed in Phase 2A, 
Design Definition and Cost Study, planned for fiscal year 2026. All the 
W93's key nuclear components will be based on currently deployed and 
previously tested nuclear designs, as well as extensive stockpile 
component and materials experience. It will not require additional 
nuclear explosive testing to certify. The W93 is vital for continuing 
our longstanding cooperation with the UK, which is modernizing its 
nuclear forces. The U.S.'s W93 program is a separate but parallel 
program critical to the UK's replacement warhead (RW) for its submarine 
launched ballistic missile. As an allied but independent nuclear power 
that contributes to NATO's nuclear deterrent posture, the UK's nuclear 
deterrent is critical to U.S. national security.
    Within Stockpile Management, the fiscal year 2023 budget request 
includes $1.3 billion for Stockpile Sustainment, an increase of $141 
million, or 11.9 percent above the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. This 
program is responsible for producing and replacing limited-life 
components such as neutron generators and gas transfer systems; 
conducting maintenance, surveillance, and evaluations to assess weapon 
reliability and detect any potential concerns; and analyzing 
information compiled during the annual assessment process.
    The request for Stockpile Management also includes $631 million for 
Production Operations, an increase of $62 million, or 10.9 percent, 
above the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. Included in this request is 
funding to support continued growth of base capabilities, both in 
staffing and equipment, required to support increased LEP workload as 
certain programs reach full-scale production rates.
Production Modernization
    The fiscal year 2023 Production Modernization budget request is 
$4.64 billion, an increase of $484 million, or 11.6 percent, over the 
fiscal year 2022 enacted level. This funding focuses on production 
capabilities for nuclear weapons components including primaries, canned 
subassemblies, radiation cases and non-nuclear components needed to 
sustain the nuclear weapons stockpile near-to long-term.
    Primary Capability Modernization: NNSA's most intensive 
recapitalization effort is reconstitution of plutonium pit production 
fabrication capabilities. NNSA is required to produce no fewer than 80 
pits per year (ppy) during 2030. NNSA has outlined a two-site approach 
for producing 80 ppy utilizing Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) to 
produce 30 ppy and the Savannah River Site (SRS) to produce 50 ppy. The 
two-site approach will provide the required capacity while enhancing 
resiliency and flexibility. At this time, the production of 30 ppy at 
LANL during 2026 remains on schedule with some technical challenges 
remaining. However, the production of 50 ppy at SRS during 2030 is not 
achievable. The Secretary of Energy and the Nuclear Weapons Council 
have both notified Congress regarding the inability to produce 80 ppy 
in 2030. However, NNSA remains committed to achieving 80 ppy as close 
to 2030 as possible. The fiscal year 2023 budget request funds pit 
production and associated efforts with a 26 percent increase compared 
to fiscal year 2022. NNSA continues to work with DoD to develop a plan 
to maintain the required stockpile until pit production capabilities 
are fully established.
    The fiscal year 2023 request for LANL Plutonium Modernization will 
support equipment installation, continue decontamination and demolition 
work, and mature project design for the LAP4. This includes adding 
equipment in Plutonium Facility 4 (PF-4) to support 30 ppy in 2026, 
construction of a training facility to support workforce development, 
and construction of a higher capacity entrance control facility.
    The fiscal year 2023 funds for SRPPF will be used to continue the 
CD-2 work to establish a 90 percent design. CD-2 is forecast for 
completion in early fiscal year 2024. Additionally, the request 
supports early site preparation including removal of unnecessary walls 
and building systems originally installed for the Mixed Oxide Fuel 
Fabrication Facility.
    Secondary Capability Modernization: NNSA is also modernizing its 
uranium, lithium, and tritium processing efforts necessary to fabricate 
nuclear weapon secondaries. NNSA's uranium strategy aims to relocate 
enriched uranium processing capabilities into the UPF and other 
enduring facilities to reduce mission dependency on Building 9212, 
which is over 75 years old. This will be accomplished by completing 
construction of UPF to provide new floor space for high hazard 
operations; extending the operational lifetime of buildings 9215, 9204-
2E, and 9995 into the 2040s; introducing new processes to increase 
safety and efficiency in the new facilities; and supplying the current 
stockpile with purified enriched uranium metal.
    UPF will provide for the long-term viability, safety, and security 
of enriched uranium processing capability in the United States while 
significantly improving worker and public safety. The construction is 
well underway with a peak production workforce of 3,000 people in 
fiscal years 2022 and 2023. Ongoing supply chain issues and delays 
associated with the COVID-19 pandemic are projected to result in a 
delay of about 8 months beyond the scheduled completion date of 
December 2025. A comprehensive annual cost update is being conducted 
for the UPF project completion to better understand factors that could 
potentially affect total costs. Overall, UPF is 70 percent complete 
with the first three non-nuclear infrastructure subprojects completed 
under budget and on schedule.
    Additionally, in fiscal year 2021, NNSA initiated the Depleted 
Uranium (DU) Modernization Program to meet growing mission 
requirements. This effort will reconstitute lapsed DU alloying and 
component manufacturing capabilities at Y-12; invest in key new 
technologies to improve efficiency and reduce lifecycle costs; and 
increase the reliability and capacity. The DU Modernization Program 
request for fiscal year 2023 is $170 million.
    The U.S. no longer maintains a full lithium purification capability 
and relies on direct recycling as the main source of lithium for 
nuclear weapons systems. NNSA's Lithium Strategy will increase the 
supply of lithium by recycling components from dismantled systems, 
sustain and recapitalize existing infrastructure through a transition 
period, and design and construct a Lithium Processing Facility (LPF) to 
house processing capabilities by 2031. LPF will replace capabilities 
performed in Y-12's buildings 9204-2 and 9202 and will include 
recovery, purification, and component fabrication operations. While 
current capabilities can provide a sufficient lithium supply through 
2035, operations take place in an aging facility with significant 
infrastructure challenges. LPF will alleviate those issues and reduce 
risk while providing capacity to meet material demands beyond 2035.
    The fiscal year 2023 budget request for the Tritium and Domestic 
Uranium Enrichment is $580 million, an increase of $64 million, or 12.4 
percent above the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. For Domestic Uranium 
Enrichment the fiscal year 2023 budget request supports HEU down-
blending to extend the need date for low-enriched uranium (LEU) for 
tritium production to 2044, enrichment technology development, and 
acquisition activities to meet future enriched uranium needs. HEU 
downblending began in fiscal year 2019 and will continue through fiscal 
year 2025. NNSA is currently conducting an analysis of alternatives, 
which is expected to conclude in the mid-2020s that will inform a final 
down-select of an enrichment options. Other NNSA programs such as 
reactor fuel and naval propulsion fuel are also supported by this 
effort.
    The Tritium Modernization Program's mission is to establish and 
operate a domestic source of tritium to meet national security 
requirements, which includes recycling tritium gas to maintain required 
inventories and sustaining reliable supply chain infrastructure and 
equipment. Since 2003, NNSA's tritium production has met all 
production, delivery, and schedule requirements. Because NNSA is 
currently ramping up production levels at the Tennessee Valley 
Authority to meet future delivery requirements, the requested budget 
has been increased. NNSA is also in the early phases of constructing 
the Tritium Finishing Facility (TFF), which will replace a 1950s-era 
facility. TFF will house the finishing, packing, and shipping of gas 
reservoirs to meet mission requirements. This major infrastructure 
modernization initiative will fulfill a critical mission need and 
enable the program to meet contemporary safety standards. The facility 
will house functions to receive, inspect, finish, package, and ship 
reservoirs. Construction of the site preparation subproject is 
scheduled to start in fiscal year 2024.
    Non-Nuclear Component Modernization: Non-nuclear components (NNCs) 
include a wide array of parts that weaponize the nuclear explosive 
package. Examples are gas transfer systems, neutron generators, 
microelectronics, and power sources. NNCs make up more than half the 
cost of weapon modernization due to the number, complexity, and their 
qualification in extreme environments over the warhead lifecycle. 
Therefore, delivering NNCs requires an extensive foundation of 
capabilities for the design, development, qualification, production, 
and surveillance of these components. The fiscal year 2023 request 
includes funding to provide equipment for increased manufacturing 
capacity at the Kansas City National Security Campus; reconstitute 
thermal spray capability for weapon modernization; recapitalize 
radiation and major environmental test facilities at Sandia National 
Laboratories used to design and qualify NNCs; and tools and equipment 
at the Microsystems Engineering, Science and Applications (MESA) 
Complex at Sandia, which serves as the only approved source of trusted, 
strategically radiation hardened microelectronics.
Infrastructure and Operations
    NNSA has been taking significant steps to modernize and 
recapitalize its infrastructure to meet expanding demands, reduce 
mission and safety risk, and draw down its deferred maintenance 
backlog. A well-organized, well-maintained, and modern infrastructure 
system is the bedrock of a flexible and resilient nuclear enterprise. 
Almost 60 percent of NNSA facilities were beyond their 40-year life 
expectancy at the end of fiscal year 2021 with some dating back to the 
Manhattan Project. Our modernization and recapitalization efforts will 
provide for the safety of our workforce, the communities around our 
facilities, and our environment. NNSA can address this challenge only 
with sustained, predictable, and timely funding.
    The fiscal year 2023 budget request for Infrastructure and 
Operations is $2.63 billion, an increase of $144 million or 5.8 percent 
over the fiscal year 2022 enacted amount. This increase will enable 
NNSA to build on the Infrastructure Modernization Initiative, including 
adopting new practices that will streamline construction practices to 
save time and money on low-risk, non-nuclear, construction projects.
    Deferred maintenance has been a key focus of both NNSA and 
Congress. At the end of fiscal year 2021, NNSA had $6.1 billion of 
deferred maintenance and an enterprise-wide replacement plant value of 
$121.5 billion. While this ratio may seem high, construction of new 
facilities and associated demolition of legacy facilities will have a 
substantial role in reducing NNSA infrastructure challenges. 
Approximately 90 percent of NNSA deferred maintenance is associated 
with facilities that are approaching or have surpassed their intended 
design life. NNSA is integrating its infrastructure modernization work 
with the Department's Office of Environmental Management supported 
effort to demolish high-risk excess facilities at the Y-12 National 
Security Complex, Lawrence Livermore National Lab, and Los Alamos 
National Lab. NNSA is using this intentional approach to prioritize 
investments based on mission risk while underscoring the need for 
sustained commitment to move beyond legacy infrastructure. The fiscal 
year 2023 budget request includes increases in Mission Enabling 
Construction accounts so that NNSA can address mission needs, achieve 
operational efficiencies, and reduce risks to safety, security, the 
environment, and program.
    For years, NNSA has used a prioritization methodology for 
recapitalization investments that factors in sustainability and 
resilience along with safety and mission risk. In fiscal year 2023, 
NNSA is increasing its emphasis on climate resiliency projects through 
the Energy Resilient Infrastructure and Climate Adaptation (ERICA) 
initiative. ERICA is part of NNSA's multifaceted approach to address 
climate adaptation and resilience using direct- and indirect-funded 
infrastructure programs and alternative financing. For example, the 
planned Building 848 Net Zero Energy Upgrade project at Sandia will 
move the facility to being 100 percent powered by on-site generated 
electricity while also improving its operations, indoor air quality, 
and thermal comfort.
    NNSA uses data-driven, risk informed tools and initiatives to 
improve decisionmaking, accelerate the delivery, and reduce the cost of 
commercial-like construction projects. For example, in fiscal year 2019 
NNSA established the Enhanced Minor Construction & Commercial Standards 
(EMC2) pilot, which is challenging the paradigm for how NNSA executes 
low-risk, non-complex construction projects to accelerate delivery and 
reduce costs. There are 10 projects in the pilot, including the 
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's Emergency Operations Center 
(EOC) which is the first pilot project to be completed earlier this 
year. Using the EMC2 approach, the Livermore EOC was completed 13 
months after receiving full construction funding in January 2021. In 
the first four pilot projects currently underway, estimated cost 
savings range from approximately 12 to 31 percent. An additional six 
EMC2 projects are projected to result in estimated cost savings of 17 
to 38 percent.
Stockpile Research, Technology and Engineering
    For Stockpile Research, Technology, and Engineering, the fiscal 
year 2023 budget request is $2.89 billion, a decrease of $83 million, 
or 2.8 percent below the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. The decrease 
results from the use of carryover balances to continue construction of 
the U1a Complex Enhancement Project at the Nevada National Security 
Site (NNSS). After adjusting for this reduction, the Stockpile 
Research, Technology, and Engineering request is stable from fiscal 
year 2022 enacted.
    This portfolio provides the scientific foundation for science-based 
stockpile activities, including the capabilities, tools, and components 
needed to assess the active stockpile and to certify warhead 
modernization programs without the need for underground nuclear 
testing. NNSA's unparalleled science and technical capabilities, and 
commitment to their constant improvement, helps cultivate the knowledge 
and expertise to maintain confidence in the stockpile. The major 
activities in the Stockpile Research, Technology, and Engineering 
portfolio are:
    Enhanced Capabilities for Subcritical Experiments (ECSE): ECSE will 
produce experimental data in underground tunnels at the NNSS that will 
enable high fidelity assessment of the current stockpile and 
certification of the future stockpile without the need to return to 
underground nuclear-explosive testing. ECSE experiments are designed to 
remain subcritical throughout the experiment to adhere to the U.S. 
policy of ``zero yield.''
    Stockpile Responsiveness Program (SRP): SRP is responsible for 
exercising and enhancing capabilities across the entire nuclear weapons 
development and production process to improve the responsiveness of the 
United States to future threats, technology trends, and international 
developments not addressed by existing life extension programs. For 
example, SRP is investing in efforts to address issues in design for 
manufacturability, digital engineering, component, and system 
prototyping and testing.
    Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) Program: The ICF Program supports 
the assessment and certification of the nuclear weapon stockpile by 
providing the facilities, scientific expertise, and experimental 
capability necessary to acquire data at the extreme conditions of 
nuclear weapon operation. The ICF program also supports research on 
thermonuclear fusion with the goal of reaching fusion ignition and 
eventually high fusion yield in the laboratory. The fiscal year 2023 
request supports ICF research and facilities, enabling access to 
experimental data that underpin the safety, security, and effectiveness 
of the nuclear stockpile and continued progress toward the capabilities 
necessary to meet long-term stewardship needs.
    NNSA Exascale Computing Initiative: The Exascale Computing 
Initiative (ECI) will provide NNSA with next-generation simulation 
capabilities to support weapons design, science-based stockpile 
stewardship, and stockpile certification activities. The fiscal year 
2023 budget request will continue funding maturation of next-generation 
simulation and computing technologies and enables NNSA to meet its 
exascale system initial operation capability in fiscal year 2023, 
including transition of the next-generation, validated weapons codes to 
next-generation classified computing.
    Academic Programs: The challenges of sustaining the nuclear 
deterrent long-term demand a strong and diverse base of national 
expertise and educational opportunities in specialized technical areas 
that uniquely contribute to stockpile stewardship. NNSA's Academic 
Programs are designed to cultivate, attract, and retain such a 
workforce. Funding in this area supports the Administration's Executive 
Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved 
Communities through the Federal Government, Academic Alliances and 
existing partnerships with Minority Serving Institutions, and an 
increase in student engagement and internship opportunities.
Secure Transportation Asset
    Secure Transportation Asset (STA) supports the safe, secure 
transport of the Nation's nuclear weapons, weapon components, and 
special nuclear material throughout the nuclear security enterprise to 
meet nuclear security requirements. Nuclear weapon life extension 
programs, limited-life component exchanges, surveillance, 
dismantlement, nonproliferation activities, and experimental programs 
rely on STA to ensure safe, secure, and on-schedule transport. The 
fiscal year 2023 budget request for STA is $344 million, an increase of 
$13.7 million, or 4.1 percent, above the fiscal year 2022 enacted 
amount to increase the Federal Agent workforce to a level necessary to 
keep pace with the growing program deliverables.
    The Office of Secure Transportation's (OST) priorities for fiscal 
year 2023 include modernization and sustainment of transportation 
assets. This includes the Safeguards Transporter (SGT) life extension 
program to secure its service until replacement by the Mobile Guardian 
Transporter (MGT), as well as the entry into service of procured 737-
700 aircraft. The first MGT Production Unit is planned for completion 
in fiscal year 2026 and initial rate production is set to commence in 
fiscal year 2027. Currently, aircraft are undergoing heavy maintenance 
checks, painting to NNSA standards, and a major modification from a 
passenger jet to a FlexCombi that is configurable to carry various 
loads of personnel and cargo.
    OST also remains focused on recruiting, stabilizing, training, and 
retaining the Federal Agent and staff workforce necessary to support 
mission requirements. OST has committed to a stable human resources 
strategy to achieve an optimal agent force. OST has increased staffing 
numbers by optimizing position qualifications and managing risk 
associated with the Human Reliability Program. Although COVID-19 
impacted key milestones and deliverables, OST successfully accomplished 
every assigned mission for the previous year.
Defense Nuclear Security
    Defense Nuclear Security's fiscal year 2023 budget request is 
$882.3 million, an increase of $38.2 million, or 4.5 percent over the 
fiscal year 2022 enacted level. The Office of Defense Nuclear 
Security's (DNS) primary mission is protecting the facilities, people, 
and assets critical to achieving NNSA's important national security 
missions. The need for increasing security due to growth across 
enterprise from projects such as LAP4 and UPF, along with additional 
resources required to sustain core security, has resulted in increased 
program requirements for DNS. Support for the request is vital for the 
protection of the enterprise, its people, and its sensitive material 
and information. DNS remains focused on improving physical security 
infrastructure with several new projects and the development and 
deployment of new systems. Progress is also being made in countering 
unmanned aircraft systems. The first such platform was deployed at LANL 
in December 2017. Deployment at other facilities is expected to be 
completed in late fiscal year 2022.
Cybersecurity and Emerging Issues
    The fiscal year 2023 budget request for information technology and 
cybersecurity is $445.7 million, $39.1 million, or 9.6 percent, over 
the fiscal year 2022 enacted amount. This request funds ongoing 
operations and invests in improvements across NNSA to modernize both 
classified and unclassified systems, improves information management 
and data governance, implements critical aspects of a zero-trust 
architecture in our networks and systems, and allows for the execution 
of a robust cybersecurity program. As an example, NNSA recently 
recapitalized its deployed cyber sensor platform, significantly 
improving the ability to detect and respond to malicious activity.
    Maintaining a strong cybersecurity program is a critical defense 
mechanism and a powerful deterrence tool. To strengthen oversight of 
the cyber program, the budget request includes a recategorization of 
certain Cybersecurity program investments into the Information 
Technology program. As a result, the request more clearly reflects 
investments in cybersecurity tools and services provided to the 
enterprise, maintains core cyber operations at the labs, plants, and 
sites, and improves management and transparency of these funds.
    NNSA also recently completed an enterprise-wide cybersecurity 
assessment, in conjunction with the Institute for Defense Analyses, 
aimed at evaluating the overall cybersecurity posture and developing a 
set of recommendations to improve the program. That review calls for 
increased investment in information technology and cyber infrastructure 
to better meet current and emerging challenges, as well as outlines 
strategies related to workforce development issues. NNSA has already 
started acting on the findings and will continue to do so with the 
fiscal year 2023 requested budget.
             defense nuclear nonproliferation appropriation
    The fiscal year 2023 budget request for the Defense Nuclear 
Nonproliferation account is $2.3 billion, an increase of $274 million, 
or 13.2 percent, over the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. When the use 
of prior year balances is considered, the proposed funding level for 
the account increases by $397 million, or 19.2 percent. The use of 
prior year balances will allow DNN programs to supplement new budget 
authority across its programs.
    This account funds all activities in the offices of Defense Nuclear 
Nonproliferation, Emergency Operations, and Counterterrorism and 
Counterproliferation. Within these offices, this appropriation funds 
six nonproliferation programs, a counterterrorism and 
counterproliferation program, and an incident response program as part 
of a whole-of-government approach. Together these efforts provide 
policy and technical leadership to prevent or limit the spread of 
weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and the related materials, 
technology, and expertise as well as to detect and respond to nuclear 
terrorism or proliferation events.
Nonproliferation Efforts
    For decades, Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation (DNN) has developed 
and implemented policy and technical solutions to eliminate 
proliferation sensitive material and limit or prevent the spread of 
materials, technology, and expertise necessary for nuclear and 
radiological weapons. By working with governments, international 
organizations, and private sector partners around the world these 
efforts reduce the reliance on radioactive material in commercial and 
research industries; better secure nuclear and radioactive material; 
develop capabilities to interdict material outside of regulatory 
control; and maintain a robust response capability for nuclear and 
radiological incidents at home and abroad.
    The fiscal year 2023 budget request will allow the Office of 
Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation to better confront current and 
anticipated proliferation challenges including the growing nuclear 
programs and strategic competition with Russia and China, the impacts 
of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, risks related to the North 
Korean and Iranian nuclear programs, and disruptive technologies that 
lower the barrier to proliferation. Through these efforts DNN aims to 
restore American leadership in nonproliferation solutions and cutting-
edge technology required to address future threats.
    The Material Management and Minimization (M3) program fiscal year 
2023 budget request is $451 million, an increase of $108 million, or 
31.5 percent, over the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. M3 programs 
reduce and, when possible, eliminate weapons-usable nuclear material 
around the world. The fiscal year 2023 budget request supports the 
conversion or shutdown of research reactors and isotope production 
facilities that use HEU, the use of non-HEU-based Mo-99 production, the 
removal and disposal of weapons-usable nuclear material, and the 
removal of plutonium from the State of South Carolina. Additionally, to 
date, nearly 7,270 kilograms of weapons-usable nuclear material from 48 
countries and Taiwan have been removed or confirmed disposed, while 108 
civilian research reactors and isotope production facilities have 
stopped using weapons-grade material in their work.
    The Global Material Security program fiscal year 2023 budget 
request is $504 million, a decrease of $27.4 million, or 5.1 percent, 
below the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. The fiscal year 2023 request 
supports program efforts to prevent terrorists and other actors from 
obtaining nuclear and radioactive material for use in an improvised 
nuclear device by working with domestic and global partners. This 
includes improving the security of vulnerable materials and sites, 
promoting the adoption of alternative technologies that do not rely on 
radioactive sources, and increasing capacity to detect, disrupt and 
interdict illicit trafficking operations. Working through the RadSecure 
100 Initiative, NNSA will accelerate and expand permanent risk 
reduction, security enhancements, and response integration with local 
law enforcement in the top 100 major metropolitan areas of the United 
States. To date, NNSA has replaced approximately 130 cesium-137 based 
blood irradiators with alternative technologies. The program remains on 
track to replace nearly all the estimated 400 such devices in the 
United States by 2027 as mandated in the fiscal year 2019 NDAA. In 
addition, NNSA is partnering with domestic advanced nuclear reactor 
vendors in `security-by-design' activities to enhance the security of 
their systems for domestic and international use. Finally, NNSA 
continues to build additional partnerships with bilateral and 
multilateral partners focused on counter nuclear smuggling. To date, 
NNSA partners with 84 countries in this area and continues to expand 
cooperation with existing and new partners to expand global counter 
nuclear smuggling capabilities.
    The Nonproliferation and Arms Control (NPAC) program fiscal year 
2023 budget request is $208 million, an increase of $23 million, or 
12.4 percent, above the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. The increased 
funding request supports two increasingly important activities: (1) 
policy and technology development activities for peaceful uses of 
nuclear energy along with support for the International Atomic Energy 
Agency (IAEA), and (2) policy and technology development for potential 
arms control agreements that extend to new types of strategic weapons 
as well as tactical nuclear weapons.
    By focusing on ensuring the peaceful use of nuclear energy, NPAC 
programs strengthen nonproliferation regimes through the development 
and implementation of effective technologies and policies. This is 
especially important as nuclear energy programs expand internationally 
in response to clean energy implementation to address climate change. 
New nuclear safeguards and monitoring and verification technologies are 
needed to secure materials and to detect proliferation activities 
early. NPAC works to mature technologies and transfer them to the 
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and partner countries to 
implement. The U.S. also supplies IAEA with U.S. subject matter 
experts, training, and equipment advice and procurement aid. In fiscal 
year 2022 and fiscal year 2023 NPAC is helping establish the 
nonproliferation enrichment testing and training platform. This 
platform will be turned over to the IAEA for commissioning and 
operation in fiscal year 2024. On the policy side, NPAC supports the 
development and implementation of Section 123 agreements and the 
careful regulation of nuclear technology exports utilizing Part 810 
Authorizations.
    Approximately $30 million funds increasing nuclear weapons 
verification activities. This will improve U.S. technical policy and 
readiness for future arms control agreements and associated 
verification technology. New investment in the Arms Control Advancement 
Initiative will strengthen NNSA's capacity to address future nuclear 
warhead monitoring and verification requirements through advanced 
technology development, robust modeling and measurements, and sustained 
expert engagement to maintain a pipeline of experts to helps advance 
arms control objectives over time.
    The Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Development (DNN 
R&D) program fiscal year 2023 budget request is $720 million, a 
decrease of $9 million, or 1.2 percent, below the fiscal year 2022 
enacted level. DNN R&D is the key component for the innovation of 
United States' technical capabilities to detect nuclear detonations; 
foreign nuclear weapons programs' activities; and the presence, 
movement, or diversion of special nuclear materials. The program also 
sustains and develops foundational nonproliferation technical 
competencies that ensure the technical agility needed to support a 
broad spectrum of U.S. nonproliferation missions and anticipate 
threats. Consistent with the growing nonproliferation challenges, this 
funding request for DNN R&D programs will expand activities that 
advance the development of next-generation nuclear arms control 
monitoring and verification technology and expertise symbiotic with the 
NPAC efforts.
    The Nonproliferation Construction program fiscal year 2023 budget 
request is $72 million, a decrease of $84 million, or 54 percent, below 
the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. This decrease is due to the 
awarding of the long-lead procurement contracts for gloveboxes, 
emergency generators and HEPA filters under CD-3A Phase 2 in fiscal 
year 2022 and the expected fiscal year 2023 completion of design work 
for the Surplus Plutonium Disposition (SPD) project required for CD-2/
3, Approval of Performance Baseline and Start of Construction. The 
fiscal year 2023 budget request supports the implementation of the 
dilute and dispose strategy, by continuing design for the SPD project. 
The SPD project will add additional glovebox capacity at the SRS to 
accelerate plutonium dilution and aid in the removal of plutonium from 
South Carolina.
    NNSA is requesting the establishment of a Bioassurance Program in 
fiscal year 2023. The budget request is $20 million. As the COVID-19 
pandemic has shown, the United States needs better capabilities to 
anticipate, respond to, and mitigate threats to the bioeconomy. NNSA 
proposes to establish a national security bioassurance program to 
perform activities to anticipate and detect threats and scale response 
solutions to support the security of the future bioeconomy and monitor 
and thwart malpractice in this area. This funding supports foundational 
work at DOE/NNSA laboratories including the anticipation of 
destabilizing threats through modeling, identifying threat signatures 
and developing detection technologies, and rapidly developing and 
validating safeguards and threat mitigation approaches. NNSA will 
integrate its high-security work with the Department's Office of 
Science supported ``open'' science work and other government agencies, 
providing the full spectrum of capabilities essential for a 
bioassurance program informed by national security expertise drawn from 
parallel and analogous work on nuclear threats, risks, export controls 
and licensing, nonproliferation, detection, and verification.
Nuclear Counterterrorism and Incident Response
    The fiscal year 2023 request for the Nuclear Counterterrorism and 
Incident Response (NCTIR) program is $439 million, an increase of $68 
million, or 18.4 percent, over the fiscal year 2022 enacted amount. The 
NCTIR program supports two subprograms: Counterterrorism and 
Counterproliferation (CTCP) and Emergency Operations (EO).
    CTCP is responsible for countering nuclear terrorism and nuclear 
proliferation, responding to nuclear incidents and accidents worldwide, 
advancing nuclear forensic capabilities, and building domestic and 
international partner capacity concerning emergency preparedness and 
response. CTCP's unique scientific and operational capabilities make it 
an integral part of the U.S. Government's layered defense against 
nuclear terrorism and nuclear proliferation.
    CTCP manages the NEST, NNSA's multi-mission emergency response 
capability comprised of on-call technical specialists who are trained 
and equipped to respond to nuclear incidents and accidents worldwide. 
NEST's missions include both national security and public health and 
safety disciplines.
    NNSA, in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation 
(FBI), supports regional counter-WMD teams in 14 major U.S. cities as 
part of the ``Capability Forward'' initiative. CTCP provides 
technology, equipment, and training in support of these teams to 
enhance regional capabilities to defeat nuclear and radiological 
devices, accelerating life-saving responses to a WMD event.
    The fiscal year 2023 budget request addresses critical shortfalls 
in CTCP's capabilities to execute DOE's Primary Mission Essential 
Function (PMEF)-2, Respond to Nuclear Incidents. In coordination with 
interagency efforts to identify and address WMD response gaps, 
increased funding addresses staffing needs, ensures operational 
integration and full-spectrum training and exercises in accordance with 
interagency objectives, and supports technology development and 
infrastructure requirements.
    Additional programmatic funding will also invest in new incident 
response expertise and technology; continue NEST equipment 
recapitalization efforts with planned procurement for replacement of 
diagnostic equipment and detection systems required for the public 
health and safety, counter-WMD, and nuclear weapon accident response 
mission areas; and bolster CTCP efforts to counter nuclear 
proliferation through applied analysis, concept development, predictive 
modeling, and testing.
    CTCP also contributes to the interagency National Technical Nuclear 
Forensics mission, a central pillar of the U.S. strategy to deter 
hostile States from providing nuclear material to terrorists. CTCP's 
fiscal year 2023 budget request includes $43 million for this effort, 
including training and exercises for responders; procurement, 
maintenance, logistics, and technical integration of equipment; 
readiness to deploy pre- and post-detonation response and device 
assessment teams; and laboratory analysis of nuclear or radiological 
material.
    EO provides both the structure and processes to ensure a 
comprehensive and integrated approach to all-hazards emergency 
management, thus improving readiness and effectiveness of the DOE 
Emergency Management System on a programmatic and performance level 
regardless of the nature of the emergency impacting the DOE/NNSA 
enterprise or its equities anywhere in the world. The fiscal year 2023 
budget request supports Continuity of Operations, Continuity of 
Government, and Enduring Constitutional Government programs to advance 
the National Continuity Policy and ensure the continued performance and 
delivery of essential services under any circumstances. The fiscal year 
2023 budget request also provides for 24/7/365 Consolidated Emergency 
Operations Center communications and coordination support to the DOE/
NNSA Emergency Management Enterprise and Departmental Senior 
Leadership. The request also includes funding for investments in 
communications equipment and classified communications system 
improvements to support emergency operations and continuity 
infrastructure improvements.
                      naval reactors appropriation
Advancing Naval Nuclear Propulsion
    With over 40 percent of the Navy's major combatants being nuclear-
powered, this technology remains critical to our national security 
posture. It provides the nation's submarines and aircraft carriers with 
unmatched mobility, flexibility, responsiveness, and endurance. The 
ability to maintain robust fleet capabilities on long-term missions is 
essential for the security of global trade and the security of our 
allies. The Office of Naval Reactors is the foundation of this national 
achievement in global security. Cutting edge advancements across all 
aspects of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, from reactor plant 
development and design to the disposition of spent fuel, gives the U.S. 
Navy a decisive edge in naval warfare and enhances the security and 
reliability of the sea-leg of our nuclear triad.
    The fiscal year 2023 budget request for Naval Reactors is $2.08 
billion, an increase of $163 million, or 8.5 percent, above the fiscal 
year 2022 enacted level. The funding does not reflect the mandated 
transfer of $92.75 million in fiscal year 2022 to the Office of Nuclear 
Energy for operation of the Advanced Test Reactor. The budget request 
supports the continued safe and reliable operation of the nuclear-
powered fleet, and it supports investment in technology development to 
deliver improvements in propulsion plant performance, 
manufacturability, and affordability--for current and future warships. 
Funding also supports requirements for the office's three major 
projects: COLUMBIA-class ballistic missile submarine reactor systems 
development; construction of the Naval Spent Fuel Handling Facility in 
Idaho; and the refueling and overhaul of the S8G Prototype land-based 
reactor in New York for continued sailor training and technology 
testing.
    Consistent, sustained funding is vital for the support of these 
projects and will allow Naval Reactors to meet current and future force 
needs. Close coordination with the Navy led to the start of 
construction of the COLUMBIA-class lead ship in fiscal year 2021. The 
S8G Refueling Overhaul is expected to reach completion in fiscal year 
2023. The Spent Fuel Handling Recapitalization project at the Naval 
Reactors Facility in Idaho is making significant progress with an 
estimated completion in fiscal year 2026.
AUKUS
    On September 15, 2021, Australia, the UK, and the U.S. announced 
the creation of an enhanced trilateral security partnership (AUKUS), 
focused on peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region. The three 
governments are currently 6 months into an 18-month consultation period 
to establish the most efficient path forward for the delivery of a 
nuclear-powered, conventional, submarine capability to Australia as 
expeditiously as possible. As part of the international working group 
developing nonproliferation and safeguards aspects of the AUKUS 
program, NNSA will provide technical advice to the interagency and our 
AUKUS partners on the full suite of requirements that underpin nuclear 
stewardship to implement strong safeguards measures and achieve the 
AUKUS objectives.
    This cooperation is fully consistent with our obligations under the 
Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). The NPT does not prohibit naval 
nuclear propulsion. In our role in this trilateral partnership, we 
intend to implement the strongest possible nonproliferation standards 
to maintain the strength and integrity of the nuclear nonproliferation 
regime. Australia is not seeking, and the U.S. and UK are not and will 
not assist in any acquisition of nuclear weapons. Additionally, 
Australia has committed not to enrich uranium or reprocess spent fuel 
in the context of AUKUS.
              federal salaries and expenses appropriation
    The fiscal year 2023 budget request for Federal Salaries and 
Expenses (FSE) is $496 million, an increase of $32 million, or 7 
percent, above the fiscal year 2022 enacted level. The increase in this 
account will support an additional 132 Federal Full-time Equivalents 
(FTE) above the fiscal year 2022 enacted level, bringing the total to 
1,958. FSE increases will also support increased space and occupancy 
needs, travel costs, support service contractors, training, and other 
related expenses.
    The NNSA Federal workforce is critical to the success of the 
Nation's nuclear security enterprise. NNSA's expanding mission 
requirements and pressing modernization and recapitalization needs 
require recruiting, training, and retaining a skilled Federal workforce 
with the appropriate capabilities to meet mission requirements and 
deliver on our objectives. This workforce represents some of the top 
minds on nuclear issues, consisting of a diverse team of scientists, 
engineers, project and program managers, foreign affairs specialists, 
and support staff that perform program and project management and 
conduct appropriate oversight of national security missions. NNSA's 
Federal workforce is distributed across the enterprise and can be found 
in eight States and Washington, DC.
    NNSA currently faces two significant hurdles in achieving full 
staffing: retirement and private sector competition. As of fiscal year 
2021 17.3 percent of NNSA FTE Federal staff are eligible to retire, a 
number that is expected to rise to 35.4 percent by fiscal year 2027. 
Additionally, in fiscal year 2021 the annual FSE attrition rate was 
10.7 percent, higher than the average attrition rate of 8.9 percent 
over the past 13 years. NNSA also faces competition from the private 
sector for top talent in technical fields.
    Combating these trends requires an aggressive, external hiring 
strategy. NNSA has utilized a renewed focus on virtual recruitment 
events that support hiring across the nuclear security enterprise in 
support of all program areas. In October 2021, NNSA initiated a pilot 
program for expedited hiring within 15 business days, from the time the 
program office selected a candidate to the time Human Resources 
provided an entry on duty date. NNSA is applying lessons learned from 
this pilot program to continue progress on a streamlined hiring effort. 
Finally, NNSA has expanded the effort to enlarge fellowship program 
candidate pools and employ available alternative hiring authorities to 
compress the hiring timeline for qualified candidates and increase the 
overall hiring rate.
    NNSA's recruitment and hiring efforts will support mission and 
growth requirements and will continue to support the Administration's 
goals of promoting racial and economic equity as a way to foster 
scientific breakthroughs, research and development excellence, and 
enhanced national security.
                               conclusion
    NNSA's enduring responsibility is providing the United States with 
a nuclear weapons stockpile and naval nuclear propulsion systems that 
are the best in the world while simultaneously promoting 
nonproliferation and counterterrorism efforts to reduce overall nuclear 
risk. The President's fiscal year 2023 budget, informed by the 2022 
Nuclear Posture Review, supports our efforts to keep the nuclear 
deterrent and naval nuclear propulsion systems safe, secure, reliable, 
and militarily effective. Recognizing the increasingly volatile 
geopolitical environment, NNSA must also stay resolute in sustaining 
and evolving our nuclear security, non-proliferation, and 
counterterrorism efforts to help offset and stay ahead of nuclear 
risks.
    NNSA has a unique responsibility to provide an effective nuclear 
deterrent in a timely manner to protect our Nation and our allies. The 
fiscal year 2023 budget request funds the five life extension and 
modernization programs that support all three legs of the triad. In 
fiscal year 2023 the requested budget also supports significant 
investments in new production facilities for uranium processing and 
plutonium pit manufacturing at the fastest responsible pace. The budget 
request contains close to equal funding for stockpile management and 
production modernization, a true indication of the intent to accelerate 
activities by working on weapon design and production in parallel with 
infrastructure revitalization. The science and engineering support for 
the weapons program stays strong to allow for the continued development 
of capabilities to design and certify the stockpile without testing and 
to stay ahead of threats.
    The Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation budget request sustains our 
efforts to reduce nuclear risk by eliminating, minimizing, and securing 
nuclear and radiological materials. In addition, the DNN portfolio 
request recognizes the changing world by increasing support for policy 
and technology development aimed at the increased proliferation risks 
associated with the increase in nuclear energy around the world, 
preparing for an increasingly complex arms control and global stability 
environment, and by initiating a bioassurance program. Similarly, the 
increased budget request for the counterterrorism and 
counterproliferation program is responsive to the changing threat 
environment.
    The Naval Reactors budget request recognizes the excellent 
stewardship provided over the years and continues to support the high 
priority needs to replace aging tools, build a new spent fuel handling 
facility, and support the COLUMBIA-class production schedule.
    The challenges NNSA faces ahead are steep and we are mindful of the 
resources entrusted to it. For fiscal year 2023, NNSA scrubbed prior 
year balances and used available funds to offset some of the increased 
budget needs. NNSA, in partnership with Congress and our colleagues in 
the Departments of Energy and Defense, is steadfast in our commitment 
to fulfill vital national security mission and deliver our goals. We 
greatly appreciate your support.
            Prepared Statement of Admiral James F. Caldwell
    Chairman Feinstein, Ranking Member Kennedy, and distinguished 
members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to appear 
before you today and present the President's fiscal year 2023 budget 
for Naval Reactors. Your strong support for the work we do ensures our 
nuclear Navy can carry out vital missions around the world with 
agility, endurance, and firepower. As underscored by the unprecedented 
events currently playing out on the world stage, great power 
competition is here to stay, therefore it is vital for the United 
States that we maintain a robust naval advantage over our adversaries. 
Congress' support of our past efforts has allowed the Navy to maintain 
these advantages, and your partnership with the Navy is needed now, 
more than ever, as we work on the current and future endeavors in naval 
nuclear propulsion that are needed to protect the national security of 
the United States.
    I have had the pleasure of serving as the Director of Naval 
Reactors for almost 7 years out of an eight-year tenure. Before that, I 
had the privilege of serving in many operational and staff roles 
throughout the course of my Navy career. As I reflect on these decades 
of service and our Navy's global standing, I am increasingly concerned 
that our competitive advantages over our near-peer rivals are 
diminishing. It is vitally important for us to focus on technology 
investment now; failure to do so could have catastrophic implications 
for our future Navy in a future fight. Rivals are pursuing military 
modernization programs aimed at achieving regional hegemony in the 
near-term and eroding United States preeminence in the long-term. All 
domains of the maritime environment are becoming increasingly 
contested, and to preserve freedom of the seas, deter conflict, defend 
allies, and protect our national interests, we must sustain and grow 
our naval warfighting capabilities at an accelerated pace.
    As amplified in our latest National Defense Strategy, we cannot 
simply do more of what we've done in the past. New advancements and 
refinements in nuclear propulsion are needed as the Navy innovates to 
increase and expand our competitive advantage. Naval Reactors' 
historical investment in advanced technologies has given the nation an 
enviable position in the maritime environment; further investments, 
however, are necessary to maintain our technological edge well into the 
future. Our ships need to retain their advantage against future threats 
across multiple domains and must be affordable. We also need to be able 
to design and build our propulsion plants faster to ensure the Navy 
stays ahead of increasing demands, and we must do this more cost 
effectively. As the CNO has conveyed in his Navigation Plan, ``there is 
no time to waste--our actions in this decade will set the maritime 
balance of power for the rest of the century.'' Our nation took a new 
step this past year when the President announced the AUKUS enhanced 
tri-lateral security partnership, directing a period of consultation 
with the objective of identifying the optimal pathway for delivering a 
conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability to Australia 
by the earliest achievable date. This partnership creates an 
opportunity to amplify our naval power, strengthen a key ally and our 
own shipbuilding capability, and build the additional industrial and 
vendor base capacity our Nation needs. Through the consultation period, 
Naval Reactors is also focused on strengthening our partnership with 
the United Kingdom, and ensuring Australia understands and establishes 
the strong foundation of capabilities necessary to properly steward 
nuclear submarine technology. Given the global threats we face, it is 
imperative that we ensure our closest allies remain relevant in the 
undersea domain.
    Our success in the future will rest on the foundation of what we 
build today. Therefore, I want to highlight some of the many 
contributions of our nuclear fleet. Our ballistic missile submarines 
provide the most survivable leg of our nuclear triad and are essential 
to our ability to deter major warfare, and provide assurance to our 
allies. Our fast attack submarines operate with confidence, undetected, 
safeguarding vital commercial sea-lanes, and stand ready to protect 
American interests where needed. Our aircraft carriers provide our 
nation a credible, sustained ability to project combat power, deter 
conflict, and protect our interests around the world.
    Lead ship construction for COLUMBIA Class is underway, which will 
allow the Navy to continue the seamless execution of the sea-based 
strategic deterrent mission that began over six decades ago. The USS 
OHIO (SSBN 726), lead ship of today's ballistic missile submarine fleet 
was commissioned over 40 years ago. This class will start to be 
replaced by the COLUMBIA Class in 2031 with lead boat delivery in 
fiscal year 2028. I remain focused on ensuring the transition between 
these two classes is uninterrupted--the sea based strategic deterrence 
mission is too important to fail. The COLUMBIA Class will be a bedrock 
of our national security posture for decades to come and will be the 
first submarine to operate for over 40 years on a single reactor core, 
an incredible testimonial to the technology investment that has 
occurred over the past decades.
    In attack submarine shipbuilding, the Navy continues to work toward 
a steady cadence of VIRGINIA Class submarine delivery. I recently took 
part in sea trials on Pre-Commissioning Units (PCU) MONTANA and OREGON. 
This submarine class now makes up over one third of our operational 
attack submarines. The Navy is also assessing improvements to 
capability and lethality for future VIRGINIA Class submarines; these 
improvements will not only add capability to today's fleet but allow 
the Navy to prove candidate technologies that will influence our next-
generation attack submarine. Naval Reactors is closely aligned with the 
Navy on all of these efforts. Along with the technologies being 
inserted for VIRGINIA Class submarines, Naval Reactors has renewed our 
focus and investment in advanced technologies which will pave the way 
for improvements in speed, energy density, and stealth for the follow 
on SSN(X) program. We are also focused on refueling up to seven LOS 
ANGELES Class submarines, helping to maintain our submarine force 
structure with boats that have the warfighting capability to contribute 
effectively to undersea missions.
    In aircraft carrier shipbuilding, USS GERALD R. FORD (CVN 78) 
continues to make great progress and will soon be employed and 
operating alongside U.S. and allied forces. This phenomenal ship is 
ready to provide over a half century of naval presence around the 
globe. This past year marked a significant event in the employment of 
the FORD Class--Full Ship Shock Trials. The positive result of this 
testing is a tribute to the precision, rigor, and execution that go 
into the design, production, and delivery of the world's most capable 
aircraft carrier. The second ship of the FORD Class, the JOHN F. 
KENNEDY (CVN 79) continues propulsion plant testing and is on track for 
delivery to the Navy in 2024. Progress also continues on construction 
of ENTERPRISE (CVN 80) and DORIS MILLER (CVN 81), carriers in a two-
ship buy that allows the Navy to realize important cost savings, while 
maintaining a steady, predictable workload within our vital industrial 
base.
                        naval reactors overview
    This committee's support has enabled the safe operation of the 
nuclear fleet, substantial progress on our key projects, and our 
continued oversight and regulation of all areas across the Naval 
Nuclear Propulsion Program. Naval Reactors' budget request for fiscal 
year 2023 is $2.1 billion. Your past support has allowed significant 
progress on our three major Department of Energy funded projects--
COLUMBIA Class propulsion plant development and production, the 
refueling overhaul of our research and training reactor in New York, 
and the construction of the Naval Spent Fuel Handling Facility in 
Idaho. When I first arrived at Naval Reactors in 2015, these three 
projects had not yet hit their peak funding. Over the course of the 
past several years, these projects have been a major focus for the 
Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. We have managed and lead the way 
through many challenges, and today, I can confidently say that the 
development and production of the first COLUMBIA Class propulsion plant 
is proceeding in support of lead boat construction; and the refueling 
of our research and training reactor will complete within fiscal year 
2023. With your support, the Program also continues to make significant 
progress on construction of an incredibly important Naval Spent Fuel 
Handling Facility. While we are staying focused on completing these 
efforts, we are also preparing for the future with renewed emphasis on 
advanced and innovative technologies.
                             major projects
COLUMBIA Class Propulsion Plant
    The COLUMBIA Class ballistic missile submarine remains the Navy's 
number one acquisition priority. Naval Reactors is supporting lead ship 
construction and is delivering the life-of-ship reactor core and the 
electric drive propulsion system for the COLUMBIA Class program. The 
fiscal year 2023 budget includes $53.9 million that will allow 
continued support for lead ship propulsion plant design and safety 
analysis work required for lead ship reactor testing and delivery.
S8G Prototype Refueling Overhaul
    The fiscal year 2023 budget request includes $20 million toward 
final execution of the refueling and overhaul of the New York land-
based prototype, which will enable an additional 20 years of Naval 
Reactors' commitment to research, development, and initial operator 
training. Over the course of the past 3 years, the project has worked 
through performance and testing equipment challenges, and in April of 
last year met a key milestone--installation of the new reactor core. 
This reactor core, called the Technology Demonstration Core, includes 
COLUMBIA Class type fuel modules as part of testing and demonstrating 
the manufacturability necessary for production and delivery of the 
COLUMBIA Class reactor core. We continue to provide strong oversight to 
improve cost and schedule performance, and the project will complete in 
fiscal year 2023. I look forward to providing the final update on this 
multi-year project in next year's appearance before the Committee.
Spent Fuel Handling Recapitalization Project
    Naval Reactors is constructing the Naval Spent Fuel Handling 
Facility (SFHP), located at the Naval Reactors Facility in Idaho. The 
facility is critical to our mission to manage naval spent nuclear fuel 
and support aircraft carrier and submarine fleet requirements. The 
fiscal year 2023 budget request includes $398 million for continuation 
of this project through several key milestones. Economic conditions 
influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic and the discovery of unexpected 
bedrock conditions beneath the facility's foundations have presented 
significant challenges for us. To address these challenges, we 
evaluated actions necessary to ensure the overall Project milestones 
remain achievable, including additional resources (e.g., extended/added 
shifts, parallel and fast-tracking of work efforts) and additional 
funding to mitigate impacts to current and future construction 
subcontracts. Consistent with these actions, I approved a revision to 
the SFHP Performance Baseline in fiscal year 2021. Funding in fiscal 
year 2023 will be critical to implementing our construction sequence. I 
remain committed to keeping the committee informed of our progress, and 
actions to mitigate construction challenges, as we aggressively manage 
and oversee this complex and large-scale infrastructure project.
                         technical base funding
    In addition to our three priority projects, Naval Reactors 
maintains a high-performing technical base. The technical base is the 
set of fundamental skills and capabilities necessary to safely and 
effectively support the nuclear Navy. It includes a foundation of 
specialists in nuclear materials, nuclear physics, thermal-hydraulic 
testing, acoustics, electrical design, software development, system 
development, refueling, and other specialized skills, along with the 
associated facilities and laboratories to conduct our work. The people 
and activities that make up our technical base are leveraged for our 
priority projects but also perform essential work to support the 
operating fleet and ensure our day-to-day technological advantage over 
our competitors. Specifically, the technical base: (1) addresses 
emergent needs and challenges of our nuclear fleet, (2) executes 
nuclear reactor technology research and development that supports 
improving today's fleet and future capabilities, and (3) modernizes 
critical infrastructure and reduces the Program's legacy environmental 
liabilities. This base also supports the lean yet highly effective 
Federal workforce that provides the oversight necessary to carry out 
this important technical work safely and efficiently. These activities 
provide 24-7 support to the globally deployed nuclear-powered Navy. 
Attracting and retaining top talent is critical to our technical base's 
ability to fulfill and mature our mission amidst a wide array of 
challenges and new demands in this era of strategic competition. The 
engineers and scientists at our Naval Nuclear Laboratory and nuclear 
capable shipyards are national treasures, who are in high demand from 
other areas of our economy. We continue to work with the leadership of 
our labs and private shipyards to identify innovative means to stay 
competitive in this aggressive talent market.
Program Direction
    Our small but highly skilled Federal workforce is critical to 
execution of our responsibilities. With the fiscal year 2023 Program 
Direction request, I remain highly focused on attracting, developing, 
and retaining a talented and diverse workforce to oversee and manage a 
wide array of work across the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program to 
ensure mission success. The talented and dedicated people at our 
Washington, DC headquarters and field offices are absolutely essential 
to our strong centralized management and oversight of the important 
work we perform for our Nation.
    Building ships that have over forty years of expected life requires 
staffing continuity to ensure the Nation has a workforce with the deep 
technical knowledge needed to execute Naval Reactors' cradle-to-grave 
responsibilities of these robust systems. I must have sufficient 
Federal staffing to meet the demands of sustaining and improving 
today's fleet while simultaneously growing our future capabilities. The 
cumulative effect of personnel costs growing above inflationary rates 
and an increase in recent senior level retirements has impeded our 
ability to reach this goal and challenged our ability to maintain our 
staffing levels. The market for this talent is exceptionally 
competitive. Increasingly complex systems, new and innovative research 
efforts, and growing cyber and other vulnerabilities require additional 
expertise and new perspectives that can only be gained through reaching 
our full personnel requirements. I will continue to communicate with 
the committee on our requirements and progress in reaching our related 
staffing goals. In concert with our renewed focus on research and 
development that I have highlighted over the last several years, we 
need to find new ways to bring the nation's top talent into Naval 
Reactors and retain this talent to transition technical innovations 
into our submarines and aircraft carriers. I respectfully request 
Congress' support, which will allow me to recruit, select, develop, and 
retain the talented workforce that was started by Admiral Hyman 
Rickover many decades ago and that has proved to be crucial to the 
success of the Program.
Research and Development
    Our research and development strategy represents a renewed 
investment in cutting-edge technologies aimed at reversing an eroding 
capability gap with strategic adversaries like China and Russia. 
Technology investment must be reinvigorated today to have new 
technologies ready for future classes of ships and to lower costs and 
reduce construction timelines. It should be noted that these 
investments also enhance and improve the performance of today's fleet; 
this is especially important given the increasing competition in the 
global maritime environment. Our critical research and development is 
conducted by the dedicated and talented teams of people at our Naval 
Nuclear Laboratory sites--the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory in 
Pittsburgh, the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory and Kesselring Site in 
greater Albany, and the Naval Reactors Facility in Idaho.
    Our first priority is always support of today's fleet. Our labs 
perform approximately 4,000 technical evaluations annually that enable 
Naval Reactors to thoroughly assess and respond to emergent issues, 
thereby keeping our ships mission-ready while ensuring nuclear safety. 
These efforts are essential to keep our ships at-sea operating abroad 
for longer periods of time, our carrier strike groups globally engaged, 
and ballistic missile and attack submarines ready to respond at any 
time.
    Beginning with last year's fiscal year 2022 budget, Naval Reactors 
has embarked on a path to identify and develop new technologies for 
inclusion in the next generation of nuclear powered ships while 
simultaneously delivering the enhanced capabilities to the existing 
fleet mentioned earlier. We are pursuing advanced reactor core and fuel 
systems, advanced manufacturing and inspection techniques, next-
generation instrumentation and control architectures and sensors, and 
asymmetrical applications of emerging technologies (e.g., advanced 
power conversion, artificial intelligence, data analytics, additive 
manufacturing, and advanced robotics). These advancements have the 
potential to deliver both greater capability and lower acquisition and 
lifecycle costs, while ensuring the Navy is constantly improving our 
advantage and innovating. I commit to further engagement with the 
committee on these advanced technology maturation efforts to enhance 
understanding and support for the actions described above. I take great 
pride in highlighting our innovative and new technologies and how we 
can transition them into meeting requirements for the Fleet of 
tomorrow.
    I want to assure the committee that our investments are supported 
by a comprehensive and rigorous planning effort we undertake with our 
partners at the Naval Nuclear Laboratory. Our annual work execution 
plans are derived from this comprehensive alignment, and I personally 
review and approve each plan to ensure we are making the right 
investments and tradeoffs in all areas of our business.
Facilities and Infrastructure
    Our Naval Nuclear Laboratory facilities and infrastructure are 
essential in carrying out Naval Reactors' mission. This year's budget 
request supports continuing our recapitalization of Naval Nuclear 
Laboratory facilities and infrastructure systems, many of which have 
supported the Program since its inception over 70 years ago. 
Specifically, this budget includes a consolidation and recapitalization 
of our thermal hydraulic testing capabilities that will advance 
cutting-edge technologies and improve testing efficiency. Without these 
recapitalization efforts, we will be unable to effectively support 
nuclear fleet operations and advanced research and development efforts 
at the level required by this complex technology. We are ramping up our 
efforts in decontaminating and decommissioning (D&D) older facilities 
that have been in existence since the start of the Program in the early 
1950s. We have approximately $8 billion in environmental liabilities 
requiring D&D efforts. Over one-third of this estimate is associated 
with the cost to remediate and demolish inactive facilities and 
infrastructure at the Naval Nuclear Laboratory sites. We continue to 
retire these liabilities in an environmentally responsible and cost-
effective manner to support best use of our funding. I look forward to 
future engagement with the committee to discuss our specific actions 
and tangible examples of Naval Reactors' long-term plan to reach our 
goals. Through our established partnership with the Department of 
Energy Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM), we are leveraging 
their experience in efficient, safe, and cost-effective remediation of 
environmental liabilities across the complex. I am pleased with the 
collaboration on this effort with my partners in DOE-EM.
AUKUS
    In September of last year, President Biden announced an enhanced 
trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, 
and the United States (AUKUS). The three governments are engaging in an 
18-month consultation period to seek an optimal pathway for delivering 
a conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability to 
Australia at the earliest achievable date. Naval Reactors is playing a 
key leadership role in developing this plan to ensure that our nation's 
preeminent expertise is applied to the nuclear-powered submarine 
initiative. We are now more than 6 months into this consultation period 
and are focused on ensuring Australia understands the full scope of 
capabilities necessary to design, build, operate, and maintain a 
nuclear navy, as well as properly dispose a nuclear powered ship at the 
end of service. This includes an in-depth analysis of the trilateral 
partners' existing regulatory frameworks, as well as the existing 
educational, industrial, and technical capabilities, and capacities 
needed to identify the optimal path forward. This effort involves 
emphasizing to Australia the key leadership roles, labor talent, and 
infrastructure investments they will need to contribute to bring this 
to reality. In February, I along with a team of subject matter experts 
from Naval Reactors and the United Kingdom traveled to Australia to 
assess their current capability. During this trip, I met with senior 
Australian government officials. As part of our discussions, we 
emphasized that obtaining a nuclear powered submarine capability is a 
long road which requires steadfast commitment to the highest levels of 
stewardship. While my number one priority is supporting our current and 
future nuclear fleet, the AUKUS efforts are being supported by a small 
cadre of experts who are responsible for ensuring the critical facets 
of this consultation are completed effectively. The foundation on which 
this effort is built is made up of our people, our technology, and the 
facilities that support our own Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. While 
Australia is funding this consultation period, Congress' support of 
Naval Reactors' fiscal year 2023 budget request is vital to support our 
primary mission and allow the Naval Reactors leadership team the 
ability to support key activities during the consultation period.
                               conclusion
    The Navy's ability to maintain mastery of the undersea domain and 
sustain a formidable forward presence and its resultant value cannot be 
simply assumed. Naval nuclear propulsion is an incredible but 
unforgiving technology, and must be treated appropriately, with a 
constant focus on safe operation. Naval Reactor's cradle-to-grave 
responsibility to manage this technology is paramount, and I assure 
this committee that I will balance investments in today's fleet with 
the requirements of a future fleet, carefully steer future cooperation 
efforts, and preserve the focus on providing effective naval nuclear 
propulsion for the United States Navy. I appreciate the strong support 
this program receives from Congress and respectfully urge your support 
for our fiscal year 2023 budget request.

                        B83 MEGATON NUCLEAR BOMB

    Senator Feinstein. Thank you very much.
    We'll proceed with the questions then. Deputy Secretary 
Adams, in 2018,--excuse me--I wrote to then Secretaries Mattis 
and Perry about my concern with the Trump Administration's plan 
to retain the B83 Megaton Nuclear Bomb. In short, it appeared 
to me to be unnecessary.
    While this Administration did request funding to retain the 
B83 in fiscal year 2022, I was pleased to see its planned 
retirement in the fiscal year 2023 budget request, which 
mirrored the Biden Nuclear Posture Review.
    Deputy Secretary Adams, what is the current plan for the 
B83's retirement?
    Dr. Adams. So the current plan, first of all, is to ensure 
the safety of that weapon while it is still in the field. We 
will be spending appropriately on that.
    The second part of the plan is to retire it as soon as 
practical in accordance with the Nuclear Posture Review.
    Senator Feinstein. Well, I think there was some adequate 
notice last year that at least I was concerned with it. What is 
the plan for that weapon?
    Dr. Adams. The plan is to retire it.
    Senator Feinstein. And when would that be?
    Dr. Adams. I don't have the details, but I can certainly 
take that for the record.
    [The information follows:]

    The 2022 NPR, led by the U.S. Department of Defense, concluded that 
the B83-1 should be retired without executing a program to extend the 
system's life. A cost-benefit analysis was conducted, and the NPR 
determined the combined age and complexity of the weapon outweighed the 
benefits of retaining the weapons in inventory. The specific retirement 
date of the B83-1 is classified and will be provided to the committee 
through the appropriate means to transmit classified information.

    Senator Feinstein. Well, if you would take it and just make 
note that I'm interested in it. I will follow it. It seems to 
me this is a weapon that should be retired or a bomb that 
should be retired. So I'd appreciate that.

                       NON-PROLIFERATION PROGRAMS

    Administrator Hruby and Deputy Secretary Hinderstein, the 
Nonpro Programs have a good deal to accomplish. This budget 
request doesn't adequately fund these essential programs and 
NNSA recently announced it plans to reassess Nonproliferation's 
priorities.
    Administrator Hruby and Deputy Secretary Hinderstein, can 
you each describe your vision for the future of NNSA's 
Nonproliferation Program?
    Ms. Hruby. Thank you, Senator. I'll start and then ask 
Corey to add.
    So we have some big challenges, as you mentioned. We have 
to figure out a new approach to Russia and China. We have to 
reassure our allies and partners that the Nonproliferation 
Regime is still working, and we have to look at emerging 
threats, especially in light of North Korea's actions, Iran's 
potential not re-entry into the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan 
of Action), and other activities around the world.
    So we think we have a solid budget request to do that. 
We're starting some new programs, including programs that focus 
more on nuclear energy around the world to make sure that it 
isn't a proliferation risk, and I'll let Corey talk about that, 
and we also have a small request for a new bio-assurance 
program.
    Ms. Hinderstein. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
    I think it's really important when we look around the world 
to recognize that we have invested and will and must continue 
to invest in our nonproliferation, nuclear security and 
counter-proliferation programs.
    We feel like we have placed a budget request in front of 
you that meets our most pressing needs, but we also recognize 
that the world in this space is changing quite quickly.
    As the Administrator said, we are focused on making sure 
that the threats that we understand can be met and countered 
and that we are anticipating the next threats. We cannot just 
look at what the problem was before, we have to look at what 
the problem's going to be tomorrow and for that reason, we're 
investing in our science and technology base, our research and 
development base, and our partnership with allies and other 
partners around the world, including the important 
international organizations that are able to be operationalized 
both every day and in the moment of crisis, such as what we've 
faced with Russia's invasion of Ukraine and their reckless 
behavior in Ukraine around nuclear facilities.
    Senator Feinstein. Thank you very much.
    Senator Kennedy.

                         COLUMBIA CLASS BY 2026

    Senator Kennedy. Thank you, Madam Chair.
    Thanks again to all of you for being here. Admiral, 
Columbia Class, we need it. We need it by 2027 which is when 
we're supposed to have it. Are we on schedule? Tell me we're 
going to have it by 2026.
    Admiral Caldwell. Yes, sir. Thanks for the question and 
thanks for the support of this subcommittee for my programs. It 
allows me to deliver what I need to for the U.S. Navy.
    We are on pace to deliver Columbia on schedule. Now my 
responsibilities there include the reactor plant and the 
propulsion plant. On the reactor plant I'm responsible for 
designing and delivering the reactor core, which is designed to 
last for over 40 years. That's a pretty heavy technological 
lift. That core is under manufacture right now and we are on 
pace to deliver that core in advance of the need for the 
shipyard's construction schedule.
    I'm also responsible in the reactor plant for delivering 
the heavy components, the large steam generators, reactor 
vessels, things like that, and thanks to the prior support of 
this subcommittee I was able to complete the designs and order 
those materials on schedule in fiscal year 2019. In fact, we're 
on pace to deliver those to support the construction of 
Columbia.
    In fact, recently I saw the reactor vessel in the shipyard 
already up there.
    There's a lot of other work that goes on to the reactor 
safety analysis and the manuals that go with the reactor plant. 
Those are all on the pace that we need to.
    The other part of my responsibility is the Department of 
Navy-funded responsibility to deliver the electric drive. This 
ship will have----
    Senator Kennedy. Excuse me, Admiral. Give me about 30 more 
seconds.
    Admiral Caldwell. Yes, sir.
    Senator Kennedy. I'm sorry to interrupt you, but I've got 
some questions for----
    Admiral Caldwell. All right, sir. Anyway, we're on pace, 
sir, and thanks to you for your support.

           NUCLEAR-ARMED SEA-LAUNCHED CRUISE MISSILE (SLCM-N)

    Senator Kennedy. Okay. I don't know whether to call you 
Madam Secretary or Madam Administrator.
    Madam Secretary Administrator, how about that, tell me why 
you want to cancel the submarine launch cruise missile.
    Ms. Hruby. Senator, the decision to cancel the SLCM 
(submarine-launched cruise missile) was made in the 2022 
Nuclear Posture Review by the Department of Defense. Our job is 
to support, you know, to deliver warheads for the Department of 
Defense, and our budget request is consistent with that.
    Senator Kennedy. You agree with the decision?
    Ms. Hruby. Well, it's not my job to agree or to disagree 
with the decision. I think there are solid arguments on both 
sides of this decision----
    Senator Kennedy. Well, you don't have to follow it, do you?
    Ms. Hruby [continuing.] And that the capability----
    Senator Kennedy. You're not bound by what they're 
recommending, are you?
    Ms. Hruby. My program of record has to be consistent with 
what the Department of Defense wants in their Nuclear Program.
    Senator Kennedy. Mm-hmm. So you can't call them up and say 
I think you're making a big mistake here? What are they going 
to do? Hang up on you? No, I don't think so.
    Ms. Hruby. Well, I think they will tell me that's not my 
job.

                           B-83 MEGATON BOMB

    Senator Kennedy. Mm-hmm. I think you can handle yourself, 
Madam Secretary. I believe you could.
    Why do you want to retire the B83 early?
    Ms. Hruby. Again, a similar answer that was the decision in 
the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review. It is a very old weapon and 
the decision was made to immediately retire it in the Nuclear 
Posture Review and the NNSA intends to do that as the 
Administration decided.
    Senator Kennedy. Are there any strategic targets for which 
only the B83 can destroy?
    Ms. Hruby. My understanding, and again this is not the 
heart of my job, but my understanding is that the number of 
targets the B83 is credible for has been shrinking and any more 
than that would need to be in another session.
    Senator Kennedy. An underground nuclear facility could be 
targeted by B83, couldn't it?
    Ms. Hruby. Again, I don't think that's a discussion we can 
have in this forum.

                        PLUTONIUM PIT PRODUCTION

    Senator Kennedy. Yes. All right. Talk to me about the 
plutonium pit production capability. Our stockpile's aging. 
What are we going to do?
    Ms. Hruby. That's the heart of why we're developing the 
capability to produce plutonium pits again and we're doing this 
in a new manner. We're doing it at two sites, at the Los Alamos 
National Laboratory and also at the Savannah River Site.
    We think this approach will provide the resilience we need 
going forward and the adaptability that we'll need going 
forward, but it's a big lift to build a production facility for 
nuclear materials and we are making good progress on that at 
Los Alamos and we're finishing the design for Savannah River.
    Senator Kennedy. I'm just going to close with this comment. 
Sometimes people lie and sometimes they run countries and I 
think the Ayatollah in Iran habitually lies and if you get rid 
of that B83 that you want to eliminate, I think you're going to 
make him smile and I don't think that's in America's interests 
and I really think you need to reconsider.
    Madam Chair, I'm done.
    Senator Feinstein. Thank you very much.
    Senator Heinrich.

                        LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LAB

    Senator Heinrich. Thank you, Madam Chair.
    Administrator Hruby, as I know you're aware, yesterday the 
Cerro Pelado fire was finally over 70 percent contained, a real 
dramatic improvement from a couple weeks ago, when, given wind 
conditions, we were all concerned about a run towards Los 
Alamos.
    Can you talk to me about the ongoing efforts between NNSA, 
the county, the Forest Service, and the Park Service to just 
coordinate efforts and make sure that we have the maximum 
defensible space for the lab?
    Ms. Hruby. Yes, Senator Heinrich. Thank you for that 
question.
    We have paid close attention and continue to pay close 
attention to the fire around Los Alamos. I'm happy to say over 
the last 3 or 4 years Los Alamos has done a terrific job of 
clearing fuel on the laboratory property and as a result of 
this fire actually lent the machines to help clear fuels to the 
Forest Service and other areas that would provide even a 
greater barricade to the fire taking hold at Los Alamos.
    Senator Heinrich. I was there on Friday and noticed a lot 
of work being done sort of in the moment and I think that to 
the extent that we can make sure that we have those treatments 
done well before we have an acute event and that means also 
coordinating with other agencies to make sure that those 
interagency boundaries are treated.

                 COMPETES/USCIA (CHIPS AND SCIENCE ACT)

    As you know, we're in the middle of trying to resolve 
differences now between the House and Senate-passed 
competitiveness bills, COMPETES or USICA or whatever we decide 
to call them, but the COMPETES bill includes the Restore and 
Modernize our National Labs Act which authorized just a little 
over $30 billion for infrastructure in the labs.
    Talk to me about why that's important, what the 
infrastructure needs are, and why we need to keep that in the 
legislation as we go though conference, what it will actually 
mean for American competitiveness and the labs specifically.
    Ms. Hruby. Thank you, Senator Heinrich, for that question.
    As has already been said at this hearing, but we are 
spending a lot of money on revitalizing our production 
capabilities and we don't want to make the mistake that we made 
before where we paid a lot of attention to the labs and we 
didn't pay attention to production. We in fact want a balanced 
program, but it's hard to do that within the constraints of the 
budget that we have today.
    So this bill that you're talking about would provide us the 
ability to actually reinvest in the laboratory science 
capabilities for our NNSA programs and there are many things 
that we need to do and want to do.
    We're currently working hard at the Nevada National 
Security Site to build new capabilities for sub-critical 
experiment, but we know we need reinvestment in our inertial 
confinement fusion programs. We know we need investments in 
combined radiation experiments at Sandia and so such a bill 
would be tremendously beneficial to keep our R&D programs 
second to none.

                      INERTIAL CONFINEMENT FUSION

    Senator Heinrich. I have heard concern from the labs 
regarding the fiscal year 2023 request in inertial confinement 
fusion as well as super-computing and sub-critical experiments.
    Are you concerned with the budget levels in any of those 
areas and the potential impact on the ability of the lab to 
fulfill any of its basic missions in those areas?
    Ms. Hruby. The answer is yes. This is something that Marv 
and I talk a lot about, how we create room for investment in 
science given all the deliverables. At the same time we think 
that the budget is adequate to do what we have to do, the main 
deliverables in 2023, but we have to make sure that we have a 
long-term stable plan and it's a lot easier to invest now than 
it will be after we get past the point that investment can 
help, and I don't know if Dr. Adams wants to say anything.
    Dr. Adams. Very quickly, I'll add that we are looking to 
develop a long-term plan for the ICF capabilities that will 
involve judicious reinvestments in existing facilities to 
upgrade them. It involves maintaining them so that they can 
continue to deliver for stockpile stewardship, but in the 
longer term, some of these facilities need to be replaced and 
developing that long-term strategy is where we're focusing 
right now. At that point then we'll know how and where to 
invest.
    Senator Heinrich. Thank you.

                        PLUTONIUM PIT PRODUCTION

    Senator Feinstein. Administrator Hruby, in April I believe 
you testified that NNSA is still working with the Department of 
Defense to decide whether 80 plutonium pits per year by 2030 is 
the correct number we'll need to meet strategic need.
    In the meantime, I'm told we're not going to be able to 
produce 50 pits annually at the Savannah River site until 2032 
or 2035 at the earliest.
    You've also said that no amount of money will achieve the 
80 plutonium pit per year capability faster.
    So here's the question. In light of these challenges, what 
steps is NNSA taking to strengthen pit production management?
    Ms. Hruby. Everything you said is true, although we're not 
re-examining the requirement for 80 pits per year by 2030. 
That's a requirement that's given to us by the Department of 
Defense and the Nuclear Weapons Council.
    The things that we're doing, we are trying to make sure 
that we understand the supply chain issues that may slow 
construction when we're ready to begin construction. So we are 
asking to pull money in from out years earlier so that we can 
buy materials that we know might be supply chain issues, for 
example, glove boxes, and so that as soon as we complete 
design, we think we can move apace to do the construction.
    Senator Feinstein. Thank you.
    Senator Kennedy.
    Senator Kennedy. I'm going to defer, if it's okay, Madam 
Chair, to my colleague from Tennessee.
    Senator Feinstein. Senator, please go ahead.

                      URANIUM PROCESSING FACILITY

    Senator Hagerty. Thank you, Senator Feinstein, Senator 
Kennedy. Thank you for holding this hearing.
    To our witnesses, thank you for being here, all of you.
    I'd like to start out with a question about the Uranium 
Processing Facility, something that I've been aware of, 
underway for many years in my home State of Tennessee, It's one 
of the Federal Government's largest construction projects and 
over the past 8 years this subcommittee has provided 
significant funding, including $600 million in fiscal year 
2022, that was $75 million above the President's budget 
request.
    This year your budget requests $62 million to continue the 
construction of UPF (Uranium Processing Facility) and the 
project has a long history which includes review teams and the 
Government Accountability Office. The project was originally 
supposed to be delivered by 2025. Now I understand the new 
delivery date has been pushed out to August of 2026, is that 
correct, Ms. Hruby?
    Ms. Hruby. That is correct.
    Senator Hagerty. And what will the impact then be on the 
goal of having it cost no more than $6.5 billion if we're going 
to extend the project timeline out into another year?
    Ms. Hruby. we have a review going on right now to look at 
what the cost implications will be for the extension and we 
should have those numbers later this summer.
    I do want to say this about the UPF. It's a very large 
long-term construction project that's very difficult to do and 
we were doing that during COVID. The heart of that construction 
occurred during COVID. So I just want to say that I think given 
the one-of-a-kind construction for a large $6.5 billion 
facility that occurred over 8 years that an 8-month 
construction delay and what we anticipate to be a relatively 
minor cost increase is a commendable accomplishment.
    I mean, obviously we'd like to be exactly on time,----
    Senator Hagerty. Sure, sure.
    Ms. Hruby [continuing.] But given the conditions that we 
were working in, I still think this is a tremendous success for 
the country.
    Senator Hagerty. The scale of the project has concerned me 
for many years. I was Commerce Secretary in my home State when 
the planning process was going on for this, an ambitious 
project, one that needed to be done. I'd love to hear your 
thoughts on the importance of the project now in terms of 
completing it because I think it'll be good to have on the 
record.
    Ms. Hruby. Yes. The Uranium Processing Facility, when it's 
complete, will allow us to take down buildings that are 70 
years old and that really are not safe to operate well into the 
future. We would have to invest an incredible amount of money 
in them.
    So this is really about modernizing an infrastructure that 
we anticipate needing to use for generations to come.
    Senator Hagerty. I think we're excited in our home State 
about the potential for that space as it frees up because it 
has great economic development potential and I think it will 
help us yield a lot more economic activity from that site, as 
well.
    One of the things that I wanted to talk with you about is 
the management of the project. I know this is a long-term 
project, one that is unique, but my understanding is that you 
currently have a group of independent project management 
experts that oversee the project and they report directly to 
you.
    I think this group is one of the key reasons that the NNSA 
construction projects were removed from the GAO's (Government 
Accountability Office) High-Risk List. Now I understand from 
the budget request that you're going to reorganize this, get 
away from that structure and go back to a structure where you 
don't have this accountable group on top of it.
    Can you explain to me the thought process there and how 
you're going to obtain accountability to see this project 
through to the end?
    Ms. Hruby. Well, the reorganization that you're referring 
to is intended to actually increase our attention to 
construction projects. We're going to have some of the largest 
construction projects in the U.S. Government not only now but 
into the future and I want a continuous stream of 
infrastructure and construction project management that we will 
have in the new organization and as you know, the person who's 
been managing that is about to retire. I want to attract the 
absolute best construction manager in the U.S. Government to 
that job and I've created a position that I think will allow us 
to do that. It will still have the same reporting chain.
    Senator Hagerty. Okay. So it'll report directly to you. 
They'll still have direct oversight. That's my parochial 
interest here is just making sure that we have the type of 
talent you describe watching this project as carefully as they 
have been to make sure that now the new delivery date in August 
of 2026 is met.
    Thank you very much. Thank you, Madam Chair.
    Senator Feinstein. Would you like to have another round?

                        COLUMBIA CLASS SUBMARINE

    Senator Kennedy. I would. I just have a couple more 
questions,----
    Senator Feinstein. All right.
    Senator Kennedy [continuing.] Madam Chair, if that's okay.
    Senator Feinstein. Why don't you go ahead?
    Senator Kennedy. Okay. Admiral, I had to cut you off for 
the sake of our time constraints. I want to let you finish, but 
I do want to ask you one more question about the Columbia Class 
submarine.
    Can you just briefly explain the importance of that, 
particularly in light of our new working relationship with 
Australia and others?
    Admiral Caldwell. Well, sir, first off, the Columbia Class 
submarine recapitalizes our Trident Ballistic Missile Submarine 
Force. Today, we have 14 of those and we will recapitalize it 
with 12 Columbia Class submarines.
    The fact that I'm building a life of ship core means that I 
can do the mission with 12 ships versus 14. That saves the U.S. 
Government $40 billion in total ownership costs. That's huge, 
but importantly that is the foundation for our national 
defense.
    It is the Number 1 investment priority in the U.S. Navy and 
it is the foundation for our strategic deterrent force.
    Now specifically that doesn't pertain directly to Australia 
but all of the things that I do to deliver the Columbia Class 
submarine to provide the nuclear stewardship to provide the 
material and all that expertise, that all enables the support 
that my program provides to the U.S. Navy as well as the U.K. 
Navy because we're heavily involved in supporting the 
Dreadnought work that goes on to recapitalize their SBN and 
that will all be leveraged to support our new and evolving 
relationship with the Australians.
    Senator Kennedy. You were about to go into a new topic when 
I rudely interrupted.
    Admiral Caldwell. I'll hit it real quickly, sir.
    Senator Kennedy. You go right ahead.
    Admiral Caldwell. The Columbia is going to be powered with 
an electric drive motor versus a steam turbine on earlier 
ships. That electric drive motor, we know that was a big 
important step. So we took a lot of steps to derisk that and my 
team built a facility that has all the major components of the 
engine room, full size, prototypical, and we've run that.
    In August of 2020 we ran that at full power and got a heat 
run and it performed superbly, and then we've had a 100-hour 
endurance run.
    With that effort, we now have taken the final design turn 
and we are building the electric drive motor and the supporting 
components and they will be delivered to the shipyard to 
support the construction and again that's all enabled by the 
support of Congress. Thank you, sir.
    Senator Kennedy. Okay. Is there anything else anybody would 
like to share with us? You've been well coached there. I 
understand never volunteer. I don't mean that as a criticism.
    When I was a young lawyer, I lost a couple cases that I 
would have won if I would have just shut up.
    I want to thank you all for coming. We're looking forward 
to working with you. I appreciate all the hard work that went 
into this budget, this proposed budget, but I really think we 
need to sharpen our pencils and do some more, and I do have 
some concerns in light of the changing circumstances in terms 
of geopolitical risk.
    Thank you, Madam Chair. I am done.
    Senator Feinstein. Well, thank you.
    I want to say thank you to Administrator Hruby, Deputy 
Administrators Adams and Hinderstein, and Admiral Caldwell. We 
appreciate your being here.

                     ADDITIONAL COMMITTEE QUESTIONS

    The hearing will remain open for 10 days. Senators may 
submit additional information or questions for the record 
within that time if they would like and the subcommittee 
requests that all responses to questions for the record be 
provided within 30 days.
    [The following questions were submitted to the Department, 
but the questions were not answered by press time.]
                 Questions Submitted to Hon. Jill Hruby
              Questions Submitted by Senator Jeff Merkley
    Question. What work has been completed and is planned on the low 
enriched uranium (LEU) research and design program that with the 
funding Congress has already provided? In 2016, NNSA submitted to 
Congress a conceptual plan with a 15-year timeline from fiscal year 
2018-fiscal year 2032. Since then, which activities in the timeline 
(e.g., irradiation of HEU fuel samples and/or LEU fuel samples, and 
post-irradiation examination) has NNSA completed, and how much has that 
shortened the remaining timeline for Navy LEU fuel system development, 
if Congress were to provide sufficient funding?
    What more needs to be done to complete Navy LEU fuel system 
development? What is the timeline for completion of an LEU fuel system? 
What is the total estimated cost for development of a Navy LEU fuel 
system?
    Have the Office of Naval Reactors (NR) and Office of Defense 
Nuclear Nonproliferation (DNN) resolved any obstacles to information 
sharing between them that is necessary for DNN's research and 
development of Navy LEU fuel? If not, what obstacles remain, what is 
planned to overcome them, and what additional resources are necessary 
to do so?
    What discussions has the NNSA had as part of the Australia-United 
Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) security pact about providing LEU naval 
reactors to Australia? Have any concrete plans or steps been taken to 
provide LEU naval reactors to Australia?
                                 ______
                                 
               Questions Submitted by Senator John Hoeven
W80-4
    Question. The budget request includes significant funding for the 
W80-4, which is the warhead that will be placed in the Long Range Stand 
Off weapon, or LRSO, that the Air Force is developing.
    Can you provide an update on the schedule for the W80-4?
    Are you able to keep up with the schedule the Air Force is using to 
develop the LRSO missile?
W87-1
    Question. The W87-1 will support the deployment of the Air Force's 
next intercontinental ballistic missile, now known as the Sentinel. The 
W87-1 will require the production of new plutonium pits, so the 
investments we are making in pit production directly support the 
development and deployment of this warhead.
    Do you expect that we will be manufacturing new plutonium pits in 
time to support the initial deployment of the Sentinel?
Plutonium Pit Production
    Question. Congress mandated a goal of producing 80 new plutonium 
pits per year by 2030 in order to support our nuclear modernization 
efforts and ensure that we have the capability to replace our aging 
stockpile. NNSA has stated publicly that it will not meet the goal of 
producing 80 new pits per year by 2030 for a variety of reasons.
    What support do you need from Congress to accelerate progress 
toward the production of 80 pits per year?
Sea-Launched Cruise Missile-Nuclear (SLCM-N)
    Question. The administration has elected to cancel the sea-launched 
nuclear cruise missile, despite the importance that program would have 
in deterring Russia and China. The budget request also does not include 
any funding for development of a warhead that would be placed on that 
missile, even though this committee provided $10 million to begin that 
project in fiscal year 2022.
    How much money would be required in fiscal year 2023 to keep the 
warhead for a sea-launched cruise missile on schedule, should Congress 
decide to retain the sea-launched cruise missile program?
                                 ______
                                 
              Questions Submitted by Senator Bill Hagerty
    Question. On Monday, May 16, 2022 NNSA announced that it canceled 
the solicitation for the management and operations of Y-12 and Pantex, 
terminated the award announcement it made in November 2021, and intends 
to hold new competitions for separate management contracts of the two 
facilities individually.
    I want the experts at NNSA to make the decision based on the best 
information available while following all applicable laws and 
regulations. From the beginning of my term, my only advocacy has been 
for that decision to be made as quickly as possible.
    This is a big decision, one that my constituents have been waiting 
on for a long time.
    Administrator Hruby, can you further elaborate on your decision to 
separate these two contracts and how it will improve management, 
specifically at Y-12 National Nuclear Security Complex?
    Administrator Hruby, can you discuss what the new timeline, based 
on Monday's announcement, looks like for awarding a final Management & 
Operations Contract at Y-12?
    What effect, if any, will this decision have on the 5 life 
extension programs NNSA is currently undertaking?
    Finally, can you discuss what budgetary implications this decision 
will have at Y-12 in the coming years?

                          SUBCOMMITTEE RECESS

    Senator Feinstein. Thank you for being here, and we will 
stand adjourned. Thank you. The meeting is adjourned.
    [Whereupon, at 10:44 a.m., Wednesday, May 18, the 
subcommittee was recessed, to reconvene subject to the call of 
the Chair.]