Today, the Department of Defense, along with the Department of State and Department of Energy, released the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review.
On January 27, 2017, President Trump directed Secretary of Defense Mattis to initiate a new Nuclear Posture Review. The documents released today are a result of that effort. In tasking the Secretary, the President made clear that his first priority is to protect the United States, allies, and partners. He also emphasized both the long-term goal of eliminating nuclear weapons and the requirement that the United States have modern, flexible, and resilient nuclear capabilities that are safe and secure until such a time as nuclear weapons can prudently be eliminated from the world.
- your reference and convenience, attached are the related documents. They can also be found on the Defense website at: https://www.defense.gov/News/Special-Reports/0218_npr/
Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan, joined by Deputy Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon, completed a press briefing on this topic for the Pentagon press corps. Attached are Deputy Secretary Shanahan's remarks (as prepared for delivery) from that event.
- expect to see increases in S&T, R&D, and Procurement funding for these programs in the 2019 President’s Budget that should be released this month. This information provided for background.