WASHINGTON, D.C. – At today’s Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) and Northern Command (NORTHCOM), U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, questioned STRATCOM Commander Admiral Charles Richard about nuclear modernization.

“As the great power competition continues to escalate, a modern and effective nuclear deterrent is absolutely vital for our national security. I worked with President Trump to increase spending on the modernization of our nuclear enterprise in his FY 2021 budget. In his testimony today, Admiral Richard underscored the importance of this effort and why these robust investments are necessary,” said Senator Fischer.

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President Trump released his FY 2021 budget, which calls for $28.9 billion for the Pentagon to sustain and modernize nuclear forces and $19.8 billion – an increase of nearly 20% relative to last year’s budget – for the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration, which maintains the safety, security, and effectiveness of U.S. nuclear weapons.

Senator Fischer, who chairs the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, which has jurisdiction over STRATCOM, worked with the president to secure this increased funding.