Do the Feds Need to Improve Their Technology for Detecting Nuclear Weapons? (H.R. 5391)

What is H.R. 5391?

(Updated January 20, 2018)

This bill would require the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) to focus its research and development on creating and improving technologies to detect and prevent the entry, transport, assembly, or potential use of a nuclear weapon or other fissile or radiological material in the U.S.

The DNDO’s research and development activities would:

• Develop and maintain reports that give information on how the Office’s research investments align with gaps in the enhanced global nuclear detection architecture and with research challenges the Office has identified and seeks to address;

• Explain the rationale for prioritizing and selecting research topics;

• Develop a systematic approach for evaluating how the outcomes of the Office’s individual research projects collectively contribute to addressing research challenges.

Argument in favor

Nuclear weapons and other bombs with fissile or radiological material pose a significant threat to national security, and federal research into detecting such devices should focus on closing the gaps in the system.

Argument opposed

The Dept. of Homeland Security is already trying to research ways to improve the system for detecting nuclear devices. Plus this bill only calls for research to focus on gaps in the system without providing funding.

Impact

Public safety; the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office; and the Dept. of Homeland Security.

Cost of H.R. 5391

The CBO estimates that enacting this bill wouldn’t significantly impact spending as DHS is already carrying out similar activities.

Additional Info

In-Depth: In the House Homeland Security Committee’s report, lawmakers explained that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the DNDO’s reports make it unclear what process it uses for planning and selecting research and development projects. The GAO noted that while the DNDO does set high-level goals and identify relevant research challenges, it doesn’t demonstrate that the projects it funds address those challenges.

This bill was passed by the committee on a voice vote.

• Republican Policy Committee Press Release
• House Homeland Security Committee Report
• CBO Cost Estimate