Hagel announces multi-billion-dollar nuclear forces revamp effort

Hagel announces multi-billion-dollar nuclear forces revamp effort

Hagal anticipates a 10 percent increase in the nuclear infrastructure budget is required.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced Friday a multi-billion dollar revamp of U.S. nuclear forces, then announced he is committed to ensuring the troops responsible for atomic weapons receive an overhaul in management and more attention from the Pentagon after years of serious neglect and misconduct in the organization.

Two reviews of the nuclear forces department found a “consistent lack of investment” and “systematic” safety, security, and effectiveness concerns, including bad management habits of “over-inspection and micro-managemen,” said Hagel in an address to the Pentagon.

The overhaul implements new policies, reorganizing, and providing more resources, including manpower. Over 100 recommendations were instigated.

The lack of resources was extreme in some cases: one wrench needed to attach warheads to missiles was shared among three bases. Fed-Ex regularly shipped the wrench between the bases, the review panels discovered.

A general overseeing the nuclear forces was caught misbehaving while on a trip in Russia; alcohol and women were involved.

A cheating scandal was also disclosed: three dozen Air Force officers at a nuclear missile base in Montana cheated on a nuclear weapon proficiency test.

Hagel granted the Air Force the authority to elevate its Global Strike Command, now to be headed by a four-star general, and place a three-star general over the strategic deterrence and nuclear integration staff, positions that were formerly outranked by non-nuclear leaders.

Hagel anticipates a 10 percent increase in the nuclear infrastructure budget is required. Currently, the Pentagon spends $15-16 billion dollars per year on this enterprise.

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