NNSA

The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is a United States government agency within the Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security by maintaining the safety, security, and reliability of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile, reducing global danger from weapons of mass destruction, and responding to nuclear and radiological incidents.

NNSA was established in 1999 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act to separate key nuclear weapons responsibilities from the broader Department of Energy into a semi-autonomous agency. The Administrator, who leads NNSA, is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate and reports to the Under Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Security.

The agency’s core activities include Stockpile Stewardship and Life Extension Programs to ensure the reliability of aging weapons without nuclear testing; Nuclear Nonproliferation and Counterproliferation programs aimed at preventing the spread and use of weapons of mass destruction; and security and emergency response capabilities to safeguard nuclear materials and respond to radiological incidents. NNSA also supports broader national security objectives through international collaborations and information sharing related to nonproliferation and security.

NNSA oversees a network of national laboratories and production facilities. The national laboratories include Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, and Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico and California. Production and support facilities include the Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee, the Pantex Plant in Texas, and the Kansas City National Security Campus in Missouri.

Funding for NNSA is provided through the Department of Energy and determined by federal appropriations. The agency works with other government partners to advance nuclear security, nonproliferation, and emergency preparedness objectives.