Modifications to reports on nuclear force reductions

(a) Repeal of certifications with respect to strategic delivery systems Section 495 of title 10, United States Code, is repealed. (b) Nuclear force reductions Section 494 of title 10, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 494. Nuclear force reductions (a) Annual report on the nuclear weapons stockpile of the United States Not later than March 1 of each year, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the nuclear weapons stockpile of the United States that includes the following: (1) An accounting of the weapons in the stockpile as of the end of the fiscal year preceding the submission of the report that includes all weapons in the active and inactive stockpiles, both deployed and non-deployed, and all categories and readiness states of such weapons. (2) The planned force levels for each category of nuclear weapon over the course of the future-years defense program submitted to Congress under section 221 for the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the report is submitted. (b) Net assessment of nuclear force levels required with respect to certain proposals to reduce the nuclear weapons stockpile of the United States (1) In general If, during any year beginning after December 31, 2025, the President makes a proposal described in paragraph (2)— (A) the Commander of United States Strategic Command shall conduct a net assessment of the current and proposed nuclear forces of the United States and of other countries that possess nuclear weapons to determine whether the nuclear forces of the United States are anticipated to be capable of meeting the objectives of the United States with respect to nuclear deterrence, extended deterrence, assurance of allies, and defense; (B) the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives the assessment described in subparagraph (A), unchanged, together with the explanatory views of the Secretary, as the Secretary deems appropriate; and (C) the Administrator for Nuclear Security shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report describing the current capacities of the United States nuclear weapons infrastructure to respond to a strategic development or technical problem in the United States nuclear weapons stockpile. (2) Proposal described (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraph (B), a proposal described in this paragraph is a proposal to reduce the number of nuclear weapons in the active or inactive stockpiles of the United States to a level that is lower than the level on December 31, 2025. (B) Exceptions A proposal described in this paragraph does not include— (i) reductions that are a direct result of activities associated with routine stockpile stewardship, including stockpile surveillance, logistics, or maintenance; or (ii) nuclear weapons retired or awaiting dismantlement on December 31, 2025. (c) Certification regarding asymmetry in reductions (1) In general During any year in which the President recommends to reduce the number of nuclear weapons in the active and inactive stockpiles of the United States or recommends a reduction in the nuclear force structure of the Department of Defense by a number that is greater than a de minimis reduction, the President shall certify in writing to the congressional defense committees whether such reductions will cause the number of nuclear weapons in such stockpiles to be fewer than the high-confidence assessment of the intelligence community (as defined in section 3(4) of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003(4))) with respect to the number of nuclear weapons in the active and inactive stockpiles of the Russian Federation or will result in an imbalance in nuclear forces that could undermine continued deterrence of the Russian Federation or the People’s Republic of China, as appropriate. (2) Notification If the President certifies under paragraph (1) that the recommended number of nuclear weapons in the active and inactive stockpiles of the United States is fewer than the high-confidence assessment of the intelligence community with respect to the number of nuclear weapons in the active and inactive stockpiles of the Russian Federation, or if a reduction in the nuclear force structure of the Department of Defense would result in an imbalance in nuclear forces that could undermine continued deterrence of the Russian Federation or the People’s Republic of China, the President shall transmit to the congressional defense committees a report by the Commander of the United States Strategic Command, without change, detailing whether the recommended reduction would create a strategic imbalance or degrade deterrence and extended deterrence. The President shall transmit such report by not later than 60 days before the date on which the President carries out any such recommended reductions. (3) Exception The notification in paragraph (2) shall not apply to— (A) reductions made to ensure the safety, security, reliability, and credibility of the nuclear weapons stockpile and strategic delivery systems, including activities related to surveillance, assessment, certification, testing, and maintenance of nuclear warheads and strategic delivery systems; or (B) nuclear warheads that are retired or awaiting dismantlement on the date of the certification under paragraph (1). (4) Additional views On the date on which the President transmits to the congressional defense committees a report by the Commander of the United States Strategic Command under paragraph (2), the President may transmit to such committees a report by the President with respect to whether the recommended reductions covered by the report of the Commander will impact the deterrence or extended deterrence capabilities of the United States..