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Jan. 27, 2025 14:01-15:11 - CSPAN
01:09:53
Discussion on Nuclear Deterrence
Participants
Appearances
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dr amesh adalja
03:06
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tammy thueringer
cspan 02:10
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Speaker Time Text
unidentified
Governor, you did an amazing job of keeping the state of the state speech short this year.
I appreciate that.
And Pro Tim Anthony and I look forward to going after the Heisman Committee and figuring out what happened there.
On a serious note, though, we do appreciate and look forward to working with you as we cut taxes, as we keep deregulating, and as we work to keep our schools funded.
And we appreciate you and look forward to working with you.
Will the committee please come forward to escort the governor back to the office?
There they are.
They're standing there.
They're looking, smiley faces and all.
Thank you again, Governor.
Our live coverage of this forum on nuclear deterrence continues with remarks from Teresa Robbins of the National Nuclear Security Administration.
This is hosted by the Exchange Monitor.
We're about ready to get started.
If you'll please take your seats. Thank you.
Welcome to the 17th annual Nuclear Deterrence Summit.
I'm Brian Nessen, Vice President of Access Intelligence and group publisher for the Exchange Monitor newsletters and conferences.
It's great to see such a strong turnout at this year's summit.
With the change in administration, there are numerous changes taking place in Washington and beyond, and we're all impacted.
But four years ago, we had changes then as well.
And four years before that, we had changes.
Yet the mission remained the same, and for us, that's deterrence, and that's why we're all here.
Before we start the program, I have a few announcements.
The safety of everyone here is most important.
We have uniform security present, and hotel staff is on alert.
Everyone must have a badge to enter the premises.
The hotel has confirmed there are no fire drills scheduled for this week.
That means if we hear an alarm, we need to take that seriously.
And if we're in this area of the building, we'll exit out this room to the foyer area, down the escalators, follow the hallway around to the main lobby.
We'll go out the front door, and our gathering point would be just beyond the covered parking area.
And I want to make a quick comment.
I apologize for the escalators.
The hotel is working to get those fixed.
Part's been ordered.
Apologies for that.
If you happen to be in your hotel room and an alarm sounds, please note, follow exit signs, red exit signs, of course, and exit information is on the back of each one of your hotel room doors.
Should anyone here have a minor emergency, we have a first aid kit at the registration desk.
And while we have plans in place for your safety and security, please remember that all of us should remain vigilant.
If you see something that's a concern, please reach out to one of our staff, to the hotel staff, or to uniform security.
Nearest restrooms, if you haven't found them yet, are outside this ballroom.
Once you head out to the foyer, take a left, they're just beyond the top of the escalators.
We have a complimentary coat check next to registration if you'd like to use that service.
Thank you to IB3 Global Solutions for hosting that.
Please note that it is a coat check station that is not baggage check.
If you are traveling and you need to check your bag, please use the bell desk in the lobby downstairs.
Please silence your phones out of respect for our speakers and panelists.
And speaking of phones, if you've not yet downloaded the app for this summit, directions are located on each one of your tables.
We also have signs out by registration.
They're also in the information also in the show guide for that.
It's a very easy process.
You can use the app to connect with others, follow the agenda, provide feedback about the event, and more.
A special thank you to QIT Nuclear Solutions for sponsoring the show app again this year.
If you need Wi-Fi, information is also on each one of the tables.
Just look for Marriott Bonvoy Conference under the list of Wi-Fi options and the password is Bechtel.
Connection information is also in the show guide and at the front desk if you need that.
Thank you to Bechtel, our Wi-Fi sponsor, this year.
If you're using Twitter and you want to post, our Twitter handle is hashtag NDS2025.
All sessions will take place in this ballroom this week.
And right next door, if you weren't aware of that, that's where we have our sponsors, our exhibitors.
We're going to have our coffee breaks.
We'll have food and receptions over there.
And this year we have a lounge area in the middle of that room sponsored by Merrick.
We'll be live streaming everything that's happening in this room over in that exhibit hall in that lounge area.
So if you happen to be over there getting a cup of coffee, you want to visit with one of the sponsors, you're not going to miss anything.
You'll be able to see it live.
Our live streaming is sponsored by Contelis.
Thank you for that.
After the sessions this afternoon, we hope you'll stay for the reception hosted by our grand sponsor, Longenecker and Associates.
We appreciate their long-standing partnership and support of the Nuclear Deterrence Summit.
We have a great team on site to serve you.
Beth, Sarah, Kristen, Yusa, Noah, and Ashish are at the registration desk, our help desk.
Lily is staffing our co-check.
Jess is assisting with operations and managing the exhibit hall.
Mariah is overseeing operations, food and beverage and signs and helping out in all kinds of ways.
Dave is here to support our exhibitors and sponsors.
We have Wayne Barber.
We have Sarah Salem from our editorial team.
And in the back of the room, we have our AV crew, Kirk, Alex, Edward, and Orlando.
And finally, we have Nancy Berlin, our program director.
She'll take the stage in just a second.
But for those of you who know Nancy, we have a big announcement, and it comes with some mixed emotions for us.
Nancy's going to be retiring later this year.
And while we're excited for her and for new adventures, we're definitely going to miss her.
She's been working with us for many, many years, and she's become a force in the industry.
Over the past few months, Sandra McQueen, head of content and client strategy for our infrastructure division at Access Intelligence, has been working with Nancy.
Sandra, if you'd stand up and wave.
Thank you.
So thank you, Sandra.
You're going to see Sandra on and off through the week.
I hope you get a chance to meet her.
She's got a lot of experience in this industry.
And again, I'm confident that the transition is going to go smoothly.
But Nancy, we are really going to miss you.
And we wish you the best.
If you have any questions, requests, needs, please see one of us, one of our staff, hotel staff.
We'll do our best to assist you.
Thank you to all of our sponsors for helping to underwrite this week's program.
And thank you, all of you, for being here this week.
We have a great lineup of speakers and panelists.
We think you're going to get a lot out of your time here this week.
The subject matter is important.
People around the country and around the world are depending on us to be informed, educated, and as connected as possible.
This summit is intended to serve that purpose.
With that, I'd like to welcome Nancy Berlin to the stage to get the summit started.
Okay, for now, I am going to apologize in advance for the last seven years of conjoling you, making you do things you didn't want to do, convincing you that my way was the best way to do it.
and sooner or later you did finally eventually find out it was easier just to agree with me and move on than to argue with me.
This year has been a challenge.
It's always a challenge when we have a change of administration.
And it harks me back to the first one that I did, which was 2017, Donald Trump's first inauguration, where he had no cabinet, no Secretary of Energy, no budget, no policy, and no government people who were able to say anything about anything.
I feel like we've really come full circle because, as Brian was saying, this is a kick-ass program this year.
And for that, I'm really grateful.
I'm grateful at the NNSA Comms Department who have stepped up to the plate in ways that you can't even possibly imagine to get all the right people here.
I'm ecstatic that we have new people like Teresa Robbins, who is now at headquarters and graciously said yes, and Jim McConnell, who is always my go-to.
Like, everyone else is saying no, please say yes, and he always does.
And with that, I'm very, very happy to welcome back to the stage DJ Johnson, who's vice president of Honeywell Federal Solutions, who's going to be our moderator.
And so with that, I invite DJ and Teresa up to the stage, and let's get this party started.
Thank you, and good afternoon.
I'm honored to have you join us for the 2025 Nuclear Deterrence Summit, sponsored, of course, by the Exchange Monitor in collaboration with the Department of Energy and the dedicated industry members who support this mission.
The summit's goals are clear: to enhance our understanding of nuclear deterrence, to foster collaboration among stakeholders, and most importantly, to develop actionable strategies around global security.
Additionally, we should take the opportunity to probably broaden our thinking and discussion a bit and really think about that from a strategic deterrence perspective.
If you think about it from the perspective of the NNSA, that encompasses the safety, security, and effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile.
Number two, reducing the global dangers from weapons of mass destruction, providing the U.S. Navy with safe, reliable, militarily effective nuclear propulsion, and then finally, responding to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the United States.
That's a broader concept than just the strategic deterrent.
It's strategic deterrence is what we should be thinking about as we carry on this particular summit.
And what's important is that across all of these topics, your participation is not just valuable, it's really essential because each of you in this room plays a part in this deterrence.
And that expertise and perspective is what is really needed as we have these discussions for this week.
To open up this 17th Nuclear Deterrence Summit, I'm honored to introduce our keynote speaker.
She serves as the Acting Administrator for the National Nuclear Security Administration and Assistant Principal Deputy Administrator for Operations, where she serves as the primary point of contact for NNSA headquarters, the field offices, and our MNO partners.
With an extensive background in nuclear science and public policy, she's dedicated to ensuring safety, security, and effectiveness of the nation's nuclear arsenal.
Her leadership in NNSA has been pivotal in advancing nuclear nonproliferation efforts, securing nuclear material, and maintaining the readiness of the United States nuclear deterrent.
Her expertise and commitment to national security have fostered strong collaborations with international partners while maintaining global nuclear security.
Her vision and her strategic initiatives continue to drive the NNSA's mission to protect the nation and promote global stability.
She has over two decades of experience in nuclear facility operations, engineering, safety analysis, maintenance, and risk analysis within the Department of Energy complex.
She has served in various positions including deputy manager, senior scientific and technical advisor, assistant manager for environmental safety, health, and quality, and a federal project director.
She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee.
Thank you.
And throughout her distinguished career, she has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the DOE Secretary's Honor Award for her exceptional contributions to national security, the NNSA Distinguished Service Medal, and the NNSA Safety Professional of the Year.
These accolades underscore her commitment to excellence and her significant impact on the field of nuclear security.
With seven days into a new presidential administration, 24 days with a new Congress, and the upcoming arrival of future leaders for the department, now is a great opportunity to hear from one of the senior officials who's ensuring that we maintain mission focus while guaranteeing a seamless and successful transition.
So please give a warm welcome to the Acting Administrator, Teresa Robbins.
You know, I always have to throw in a support for my volunteers in Tennessee, so sorry about that.
Thank you, DJ, for that introduction.
Good afternoon, everyone.
It is so good to see so many people here and in person.
So many friendly faces.
It's actually a distinct pleasure to be here this afternoon representing the National Nuclear Security Administration.
And I want to start with a shout out to all of you here.
2024 was an exceptional year for NNSA.
And many of you played a key role in making that happen.
And so I just think we should all recognize the accomplishments of NNSA in 2024.
Well done.
I will start my comments by discussing the current global environment and its impact on our mission.
Then I will cover some accomplishments, I'll go through some of those in detail, and updates over the last year that demonstrate how we are adapting and tackling the changing landscape.
As has been the case for the last several years, we are confronted by an international nuclear security landscape that presents significant, frequently overlapping challenges.
I often say these are unprecedented times.
Not since the Cold War have we had seven simultaneous weapons programs, and not since the Manhattan Project have we so fundamentally overhauled our infrastructure.
Combining the two together is surely unprecedented.
The global nuclear environment remains dynamic with a mix of long-standing and novel challenges.
Russia maintains the world's largest nuclear arsenal and has lowered the threshold on nuclear use.
At the same time, China represents a unique, long-term challenge for NNSA.
Although their nuclear arsenal remains numerically inferior for now, China has expanded the size of its nuclear arsenal and demonstrated sophisticated new delivery vehicles.
This presents two new situations for NNSA and the United States.
First, we have never faced a country that is an economic peer adversary that is also nuclear armed.
Unlike the Soviet Union, China has or is building world-class industries in key fields and is an important global trade and technology influencer.
We are also more economically intertwined with China than we ever were with the Soviets or Russians, which means we need to place a new emphasis on the use of export control regulations for critical dual-use technologies.
Second, we have never faced two near-peer nuclear adversaries at the same time.
This presents a fundamentally different calculus for deterrence than during the Cold War.
Finally, we are also seeing a growing level of military and economic cooperation between Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.
While these partnerships appear more opportunistic than a new security paradigm, we cannot discount the level of technological exchange or the possibility of nuclear sharing.
In this environment, the U.S. nuclear deterrent is more important than ever as both the cornerstone of our national defense and as a source of assurance for our allies.
We need to continue to deliver on our modernized weapons, which I will touch on more in a few minutes, on time and at pace to keep America safe and secure.
I want to start with focusing on strategic deterrence.
You heard DJ talk about that as well.
I'm going to elaborate on that a little bit further.
It does encompass our nuclear stockpile, our nuclear nonproliferation programs, and naval propulsion.
All three programs are required to sustain our national security.
Let me start with the nuclear stockpile.
As I noted, we have seven simultaneous stockpile modernization programs at different stages of execution.
The program of record includes the B61 Mod 12, while we celebrated the last production unit we are still producing on that weapon.
We also have the W88 ALT-370, the W80-4, the W87-1, the W93, the B-61 Mod 13, and SLICAMIN.
Our nuclear security enterprise is actively working each of these programs.
Most of the conversation around deterrence is understandably focused on the nuclear stockpile.
However, we must sustain and strengthen our ability to prevent, counter, and respond to state and non-state actors acquiring nuclear and radiological weapons or the materials, technology, and expertise required to develop these weapons.
NNSA has made significant improvements to our nation's ability to monitor, monitor, and characterize foreign nuclear weapons programs, including nuclear material production, weaponization activities, and nuclear testing.
NNSA has been at the forefront of advances in seismic and space-based monitoring, and I'm proud of our progress in both areas.
And trust me, I didn't know all of this until I started acting administrator, but we do some really cool stuff.
And I'm only learning a little bit, I'm sure.
These assets provide our leaders with additional information about our adversaries' capabilities and help inform our own abilities.
At the same time, NNSA's continued work to minimize weapon-usable nuclear material in civil uses around the world reduces the risk that these materials will fall into the hands of hostile state and or non-state actors for use in an improvised nuclear device or to support a new nuclear weapons program.
We are witnessing growing global interest in civilian nuclear power.
The United States and countries around the world are looking to develop and deploy the next generation of nuclear power as a means of ensuring greater energy independence and fueling energy-intensive industries like artificial intelligence.
So far, 31 countries have joined a pledge to triple global nuclear energy capacity by 2050.
The United States has been a proponent and continues to be a proponent of safe and peaceful uses of atomic energy dating back to the Eisenhower administration.
However, we must be clear-eyed that if this expansion occurs, there will be more nuclear material and nuclear expertise in the world than ever before.
Many of the countries who have either signed the pledge or have expressed interest in nuclear power are nuclear newcomers who lack the institutional expertise and capacity to ensure the highest possible safety and security standards.
Furthermore, the next generation of nuclear reactors will likely utilize high-assay low-enriched uranium, or HALU, at closer to 20% enrichment instead of traditional 5% low-enriched uranium.
All of this will challenge current nuclear nonproliferation and nuclear counterterrorism norms.
The final area of strategic deterrence I will touch on is our naval nuclear propulsion program.
This program reached a major milestone last year celebrating its 75th anniversary.
I think that deserves a round of applause, too.
Since the first nuclear-powered submarine, USS Nautilus, went to sea in 1955, the U.S. Nuclear Navy has steamed over 177 million miles on a near-perfect service record, protected global shipping lanes.
and maintaining the assured second strike capability of the sea-based leg of the nuclear triad.
The AUKUS Agreement, which provides nuclear-powered conventionally armed submarines to Australia in partnership with the UK, continues to make progress.
I know you're going to hear more on that coming up after the break.
Last year, the U.S. Navy conducted the first submarine tendered maintenance in Australia waters when USS Hawaii underwent three weeks of maintenance in Perth.
This marks a significant step forward in developing Australia's sovereign SSN maintenance capability.
NNSA continues to partner with the Navy on developing and delivering cutting-edge naval nuclear propulsion technology that maintains the American strategic advantage in submarine and aircraft carrier capabilities.
Now I want to move on to accomplishments.
While shifts in the global environment present challenges for NNSA, we have also hit multiple milestones in the past year that demonstrate our ability to deliver while overcoming many challenges in our capacity to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances.
Let me start with our weapons modernization activities.
Last year, NNSA made 100% of its planned deliverables to the Department of Defense, and the Pantex plant, which represents the performance of the entire enterprise, met or exceeded its baseline weapon program deliveries for the year.
This is the first time that has happened in the commitment they exhibit to our mission.
This should reinforce that NNSA is able to deliver on our stockpile requirements on time and at pace.
Additionally, just three years after building the first production unit for the B6112 life extension program, last month we reached our last production unit.
The successful execution of this program saw the consolidation of multiple B-61 variants with updated non-nuclear components and improved safety, reliability, and accuracy metrics that will extend its service life for another 20 years.
This is a major technical accomplishment that requires sustained collaboration across the nuclear security enterprise and provides enhanced certainty and assurance to both the American people and our allies.
I have to take a sidestep here and just congratulate the Enterprise for being the most integrated, collaborative enterprise that I have witnessed in my over 30-year career.
That didn't happen by accident, but it is so powerful to be part of something like not just our mission, but to all team together and be on one team together achieving our nation's mission.
Oh, and there's more.
NNSA also reached two major benchmarks related to plutonium pit activities.
The first was the completion of War Reserve acceptance, re-acceptance of pits for the W80-4 life extension program.
The second was the production of the first diamond-stamped war reserve plutonium pit for the W87-1.
Another accomplishment that took the enterprise working together.
Next, I would like to touch on updates to NNSA's infrastructure.
Tomorrow, you will hear more about NNSA's Enterprise Blueprint, the culmination of a year-long effort to provide a holistic timeline of specialized facilities and capabilities we need to meet our mission deliveries on time over the next 25 years.
The Enterprise Blueprint specifically links stockpile modernization programs with the need for new specialized infrastructure.
I want to note that NNSA remains committed to the modernization and recapitalization of our production and scientific infrastructure in parallel with our weapons modernization.
Our aim is threefold: to substantively increase our flexibility and resilience to meet production schedules, introduce modern and efficient technologies and manufacturing processes, promote the application of modern safety and security standards for our workforce and the communities we operate in.
Beyond reestablishing a plutonium pit production capability, our largest ongoing project remains the uranium processing facility at Y-12.
Over the last year, the process support facility achieved energization, allowing for equipment and instrument testing.
Electrical commodities for the main casting knockout line were completed, paving the way for casting startup in 2026.
We also installed 140,000 linear feet of conduit at the salvage and accountability building.
Overall, we remain on track for completing construction in 2027 with full operations by 2031.
Other major construction projects also reached key milestones last year.
Last August, the first phase of the Kansas City National Security Campus Expansion, or KCNEXT, broke ground.
Over the coming years, lasting into the 2040s, KC Next will move through 15 phases that will ultimately add 675,000 square feet of office space and around 1.1 million square feet of manufacturing space and support buildings.
Additionally, last year saw the completion of the advanced fabrication facility at the Pantex plant.
This new facility houses some of the most technically advanced manufacturing machines available, enabling new high-explosives machining and manufacturing capabilities.
The infrastructure that supports our science and engineering efforts has also seen notable accomplishments in the last year.
The work conducted in our national laboratories is essential for the design, certification, and assessment of the nation's nuclear stockpile, and we are determined to keep NNSA and the United States on the cutting edge of scientific achievement.
Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than in our supercomputing program.
Last year, the Monado supercomputer was installed at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Vinado will add cutting-edge support for both national security and basic research.
It will also accelerate the integration of artificial intelligence, achieving a higher level of performance.
Even more impressively, El Capitan has been installed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory as our first exascale computing system at 1.7 exaflops, which translates to the ability to perform 1.7 quintillion calculations per second.
Everybody got that?
Yep.
Which is the equivalent of a person doing one calculation every second for 54 billion years.
The equivalent of a person doing one calculation every second for 54 billion years.
El Capitan offers unprecedented modeling and simulation capabilities for our stockpile stewardship program.
And if you want to know what all of that means, talk to Dr. Bedil.
She's here.
Our nonproliferation program remains committed to the reduction and elimination of surplus fissile material both at home and globally.
To date, NNSA has downblended over is down blending surplus plutonium and has completed 57 shipments from the K Area at Savannah River to the waste isolation pilot plant in New Mexico for final disposition.
In keeping with our objective to strengthen international partnerships on fissile material reduction, NNSA partnered with Japan to convert the first of two reactor cores at Kyoto's University's critical assembly from highly enriched uranium to HALU following a decade-long effort.
This marks the 110th research reactor or medical isotope facility that NNSA has helped convert.
Finally, last year we eliminated more than 75 devices at home and abroad that contain high activity radioactive materials.
This permanently reduces proliferation and nuclear terror risk by preventing those materials from falling into the wrong hands.
Naval Reactors continues to recapitalize its infrastructure in support of the Navy nuclear propulsion program.
The S8G prototype reactor at Kesselring site completed its refueling overhaul last July.
Recapitalization of the S8G provides another 20 years of training and research and development opportunities.
We expect training of nuclear operators to resume at the site early this year.
The spent fuel handling recapitalization project at the Naval Reactors Facility at Idaho National Laboratory also continues to progress.
It completes its heavily reinforced concrete foundations, continued erecting structural steel for the main process building, and has started construction on spent fuel storage pools.
Finally, NNSA has established a system of contracts with our management and operating contractors that strengthens our partnership.
This concept was previewed last year at this summit.
Anybody remember that?
That's the big reveal.
Hopefully somebody else.
I was the only one here?
I remember.
And like the Enterprise Blueprint, you will hear more about it tomorrow.
I am proud to say that NNSA has achieved each of the previewed milestones from last summit.
Proceeding forward, it is essential that we sustain and strengthen the partnership we have with our management and operating contractors to continue to successfully achieve strategic deterrence.
Now looking forward and ahead, these accomplishments across NNSA's mission demonstrate our ability to adapt and deliver amidst rapidly changing circumstances.
With that, I would like to take a few minutes to discuss some of our efforts for the year ahead.
Our primary focus remains delivering the current program of record on time and at pace.
The B6112 program is still producing spare components and pursuing program closeout activities.
The W88 ALT 370 remains in full rate production, delivering on time.
Last year, the Y-12 National Security Complex completed assembly of the B-61-13 test and evaluation canned sub-assemblies and has since achieved CAN sub-assembly first production unit.
Taking advantage of active B-61 production lines, we anticipate a first production unit no later than fiscal year 2026.
In addition to re-acceptance of pits, NNSA completed six additional war reserve component first production units for the W80-4 life extension program, keeping it on track to deliver a first production unit in fiscal year 2027, in line with the Air Force schedule for the long-range standoff cruise missile.
The W87-1 modification program reached a significant milestone with the production of the first plutonium pit for the program at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
The program also completed all component conceptual design reviews and remains on track to begin production in the early 2030s.
The W93, a new warhead program based on existing designs, remains on track for production starting in the mid-2030s.
Carrying out the W93 program is vital for continuing the United States' long-standing cooperation with the United Kingdom, which is working on its own replacement warthe in parallel with the W93.
Finally, the Nuclear Armed Sea Launch Cruise Missile, or SLICOM N, officially became a weapon acquisition program.
The 2024 National Defense Authorization Act requires an initial operating capability for SLICOM In by the end of fiscal year 2034.
We have created a federal program office and have initiated joint development of the system with the U.S. Navy.
Taken together, the current program record will run through the mid to late 2030s and cover all three legs of the nuclear triad while introducing new deterrence capabilities.
The successful completion of this program will provide increased safety, security, and reliability for the U.S. nuclear stockpile while providing new options to the President, enhancing American and Allied security.
Pivoting a bit, I also want to provide a quick update on our plutonium pit production program.
You will hear more about this in a panel later.
While reaching the first production unit of a war reserve pit for the W87 program is a major accomplishment, we are clear-eyed about the work ahead.
We remain committed to pursuing a two-site strategy at Los Alamos, two-site pit production strategy at Los Alamos and the Savannah River site, with Los Alamos having the capacity to produce at least 30 pits per year and Savannah River able to produce at least 50 pits per year.
We anticipate Los Alamos achieving the capability to produce the 30 pits per year envisioned by the two-site plan in or near 2028 with increased manufacturing rate confidence as we install equipment through 2030.
At Savannah River, we are focused on completing construction of the Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility in 2032.
Once SRPPF construction is complete, we will need to introduce nuclear material, establish the manufacturing process, achieve FPU, and then obtain rate production by about 2036.
That's not all.
NNSA made significant progress on the infrastructure at both sites to support pit production last year.
At SRPPF, pit production operations and programs achieved a significant milestone by establishing the Machining Training Center, a key facility to teach critical skills and develop competency in various machining tool operations for training.
At Los Alamos, 80,000 square feet of warehouses were completed to provide controlled storage and areas for equipment, practice for radiological work, and assembly and cult testing of glove boxes and other critical equipment prior to installation at the plutonium facility.
To wrap up, I first want to encourage everyone here to attend tomorrow's keynote on strategic policy and planning at NNSA.
We'll have a more in-depth look at some of the initiatives at NNSA aimed at making us more agile, efficient, and able to deliver on our missions, including the enterprise blueprint and system of contracts.
There will also be a discussion on workforce development and the relationship between NNSA headquarters, our field office, and MO contractors at the labs, plants, and sites.
I am very proud of all that we have, are, and will accomplish at NNSA, and I'm incredibly humbled that I get to be a part of this mission.
Together, we will continue to embrace adaptability, flexibility, and resilience in the face of an uncertain future and a less stable international environment.
We will also continue to deliver on time as needed to ensure national security and global stability.
Thank you, and I look forward to your questions.
So, okay.
I don't know.
Yep, it's working.
I think we're good.
Okay.
Okay.
But be close just in case.
Okay.
All right.
Well, thank you, everyone, and thank you, Teresa.
Thank you so much for the comments.
We've got about 15 minutes for some QA.
I've got a few questions, but if you have questions in the audience, we've got two mic runners on each side.
And so start thinking about what questions you might have.
I might give you a couple of minutes before we end, but I do at the end want to give you an opportunity to give some closing comments as well.
Okay.
So, first of all, there's a couple things that you and I have both emphasized in our comments.
And we talked about strategic deterrence.
Now, deterrent and deterrence, two different words, two very different meanings.
And again, part of what we want to do is make sure we are all kind of on the same page in terms of how that's defined.
So, can you talk a little bit about that difference from an NNSA perspective?
Absolutely.
Thank you, DJ.
One of the things that we are stressing is just the importance of the entire strategic deterrence.
Most people, when they think of any or nuclear security, they think of the stockpile and the nuclear deterrent.
That is vitally important and will always be vitally important for our strategic deterrence, but that in and of itself is not sufficient.
The nonproliferation, the nuclear nonproliferation programs, our counter-terrorism counterproliferation programs, as well as our emergency response capabilities, are just as foundational to our strategic deterrence.
What I mean by that is if we, what they do that is so important for our deterrence is they make sure material, radiological, and nuclear materials are not getting in the hands of state and non-state actors that they could become a nuclear nation or be misused somehow.
They are doing this every day, almost 24-7, 365.
There are people around the world guarding and making sure radiological materials, nuclear materials are not getting in the wrong hands.
That is essential, because if that material were to get into the hands of the wrong person, then it challenges our deterrence.
We've got to make sure because then more people could become nuclear armed or nuclear capable.
And so materials, technology, skills and capabilities, those are all essential that we are monitoring and making sure that those capabilities are not proliferated because it strengthens our deterrence.
In addition, we have to be able to respond if something does happen.
And so looking at our nuclear emergency support team activities, NEST, they celebrated their 50th this year and they do amazing things.
They have unique capabilities.
In fact, they were just supporting the presidential inauguration and they are already scheduled to start supporting the Super Bowl.
I won't talk about any teams that are in the Super Bowl, especially with DJ on the stage here with me.
I just want to volunteer to be on the team that goes down to, I don't have a dog in the fight.
I just want to be able to go to New Orleans.
Oh, okay.
Well, I can just tell you, if you work on that team, you don't actually get to see the Super Bowl because you're actually working, doing important work.
But nonetheless, those are just as critical capabilities because we have to have the ability to ensure the safety of our nation when we do have major public events like that, as well as determine what has happened when a radiological device is discovered or if there's material somewhere that it shouldn't be.
So those are all to me part of the strategic deterrence, and then we cannot forget the strength of our naval nuclear propulsion program.
It is very impressive that we have such unique and strong capabilities there, and that's essential that we have our nuclear-powered Navy, and we've got to continue to support that.
And that one's probably an easier connection for some folks to see, but it's just as important to have a strong nuclear nonproliferation program.
And the reason I bring that up is because sometimes people think, oh, why do we need to focus on nuclear nonproliferation as much as our nuclear deterrent?
Well, it's because it's as much vitally important as the nuclear deterrent.
So I just, we have coined this term strategic deterrence, and we're out proselytizing on it.
So thank you for that opportunity.
Thank you for the clarification, because I think it's important, especially for the experts who are evangelists in this audience that are out helping to explain this.
And one of the things with a new administration coming in with the new political appointees, there's going to be a lot of educating that we're going to have to do, especially for those who may be coming in who may not have as deep a background as the experts that are in this room.
And so let me turn to that a little bit.
And we're not going to talk about who's potentially going to be in what positions or who's going to be nominated, but certainly the nominee for the Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, was testifying last week.
He did talk about innovation and technology and how important it is for the department to move forward quickly as it relates to innovation, technology, moving faster in energy security.
And so when you kind of align that with the enterprise blueprint, I think a lot about the science and technology side.
You did mention some of the accomplishments, but maybe you can comment a little bit more about the importance of the science and technology infrastructure and workforce going forward as we think about innovation and technology.
Absolutely, DJ.
It is vital.
With everything going on with artificial intelligence, quantum computing, machine learning capabilities, we have to be at the forefront.
We have to have the, we do have the brightest today in our national laboratories, and we must continue to invest to ensure we have the brightest minds and thinking and that we are investing in the infrastructure to be able to sustain that.
With our science and technology capabilities, we utilize those to design, certify, and assess our nuclear deterrent.
We cannot afford to fall behind and not capitalize on the newest technologies as we advance our nuclear weapons program.
And so we have to invest in the infrastructure to sustain that technology.
What good does it do to have an El Capitan if the facility cannot support it or the electrical utilities are undersized or there's just not enough office space to house the scientists that are going to use it?
So you have to look at all of the equation when you're talking about science and technology.
It's not okay just to invest in our nuclear weapons production facilities.
We have to equally invest in the facilities that we utilize to design, certify, and assess the stockpile.
Great, thank you.
I'm going to take a peek around to see if there's any other questions from the audience before I move on with the next one.
I do have a question up front here, so Nancy or whoever's closest, okay.
And then we've got another one in the back.
Let's start right here.
We'll take one in the back, and then I've got one more.
So we've got about seven minutes.
I want to take only two more questions.
Go right ahead, sir.
Thank you very much for coming.
And my question is about pit production.
And the retired, recently retired administrator said that the SRPPF is expected to make pits for the W93, but only begin partway through the production cycle of the W93, and there would be reused pits in the first part of the cycle.
Can you expand on that at all?
For example, what pits are?
I don't know if you can say that, but can you expand anything in any way on that?
So I really can't expand much on that, to be honest.
Can't talk about what pits are going to be used, reused or not.
But that is the current plan for the program of record.
We do have to get the capacity that Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility will add to our capability in order to be able to deliver the W93.
So it is essential.
When I talked about the tie between specialized infrastructure and the stockpile modernization programs, that's a key one for the W93 and the need for SRPPF to be completed.
Great.
Thank you for your question.
Take one over here to the right, to our right.
Hello, Michaela Streicher, Colorado School of Mines.
My question is, I was having a discussion earlier with someone with regards to public perception.
I was specifically mentioning Rocky Flats and how being up in Colorado, you get the thoughts of a lot of Coloradans who disagree with what occurred there.
And so how do we kind of move forward?
You were kind of talking about a lot of the nuclear evangelists that may or may not be here at the present moment, but what are kind of the plans for the NSA moving forward to provide a positive public appearance, therefore civilians can kind of increase policy decisions and kind of help move acquisition forward?
Thank you for the question.
It's an essential one, and being a former Rocky Flats employee, I do recall some of the public perception there.
It is essential that we continue to deliver efficiently and effectively on the funding that we get from the taxpayers.
We have to deliver with what we're given.
It is also essential that we continue our record of safety and security at our labs, plants, and sites.
It is also essential, and this is one of the things that we have been working with the parent companies that are tied with our management and operating contractors, and that is making sure we're care and feeding not only for the labs, plants, and sites themselves and the workforce, but also we have a strong presence in the community.
A lot of times in the 30-plus years of my experience, there was a closed secret attitude and approach to the communities.
And sometimes that worked, and some communities were fine with that, but not everywhere.
And what I have found, now I will tell you, I've lived living in Tennessee and working in Texas, we appreciated very strong local support for our mission.
I understand that might not always be the same situation everywhere, but I do think it's important that we get out with the truth and the facts about what we're doing.
Now, as far as our mission, I think once you have to explain to folks, I was at a student activity at the University of Tennessee.
A student came up to me and said, We like you, but we don't like your mission.
And I said, Well, expand more.
Well, the Oppenheimer movie.
And I'm like, okay, well, explain more.
And their perception was the movie ended with the dilemma on the use of nuclear weapons, the ethical dilemma.
What we are about is deterrence.
We do not ever want to be in a position where someone uses a nuclear weapon on us or where we are in the situation where we may have to use a nuclear weapon.
We do what we do because it's the foundation of our nation's security.
And I know you will hear from General Cotton on Wednesday.
He is a big advocate for this is essential.
What we do is foundational to our nation's security.
And I think it's helping people understand that.
That it's not that we are a bunch of folks that are planning to go out and use nuclear weapons easily.
We are about nuclear deterrence.
Greg, thank you.
So in the last two minutes, and Teresa, I'm going to give you an opportunity to give us the last words.
But before I do that, I want to do two things.
So first of all, if you're a federal employee, not an MO, not an industry person, if you're a federal employee, just raise your hand real quick.
You can see lots of them in the room.
I want to just first of all say thank you to the federal employees that are here, first of all because of your participation here.
And that's important for this summit, to have the participation of the federal employees.
But the second thing is that transitions are not easy.
And there is a lot of pressure that is on the federal staff.
And they do a great job day in and day out.
And so we just want you to know we've got your back.
We're working with you.
And so we'll help them get through this together as a team.
So thank you for that.
The second thing I want to do.
So at this summit, we're going to be celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Nevada National Security Sites.
This is their year.
Last year, Sandy in Kansas City, this year, Nevada.
And so, Teresa, I wanted to give you a 75th anniversary pin on behalf of the NNSS as they get ready to launch their celebration.
And tomorrow, there is a Sam Champagne toast at the lunch.
So make sure you come back for the lunch tomorrow.
You'll get a nice little cake pop and all kinds of other things.
Whatever Roger Rook is going to give out tomorrow as the president of MSTS.
So I want to thank Roger for that.
Okay, Teresa, final comments.
Final comments.
Team, we've got a lot of work ahead of us.
It can be, it can look daunting when you look at what we have to accomplish, but the one thing I'm confident of is we've got the right team.
We are partnering stronger than ever, and I am confident we will succeed because we have to.
So thank you for what you do, and I look forward to continuing to work with you in whatever capacity I may be in in the future.
Thank you.
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And we'll have live coverage of that when it gets underway here on C-SPAN.
tammy thueringer ▲ ● ▼
Joining us now to discuss President Trump withdrawing from the World Health Organization is Dr. Amish Adalja.
He's a senior scholar at the John Hopkins Center for Health Security at the Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Dr. Adalja, thank you so much for being back on the program.
unidentified
Thanks for having me.
tammy thueringer ▲ ● ▼
Why don't we start by talking about the World Health Organization?
Remind our viewers what it is, what their mission is, and who's involved with it.
unidentified
The World Health Organization is a kind of a subsidiary or related organization to the United Nations.
dr amesh adalja ▲ ● ▼
And it was formed in the 1940s, 1950s, and after the wake of World War II.
unidentified
And what it is, is a convening place for most countries of the world, you know, close to 200 countries, to talk about health issues that affect the globe, to respond to infectious disease outbreaks.
And they have a very, very, very big footprint.
The part that I really focus on myself as an infectious disease physician is their role in communicable disease control.
dr amesh adalja ▲ ● ▼
And this is the way that we learn about outbreaks.
This is an organization that has regional offices for the Americas, for Africa, for Asia, for all over the globe, where they kind of have some reach into all countries and have relationships with the ministries of health, the health departments, the healthcare system in those areas.
unidentified
And they do provide support.
And I think most importantly, what they provide is situational awareness of what's going on in the world.
tammy thueringer ▲ ● ▼
And what does the U.S.'s current involvement in the World Health Organization look like?
What's the give and take?
What are we contributing?
What are we getting out of being part of the organization?
unidentified
So the U.S. is the largest single donor country to the World Health Organization's budget.
dr amesh adalja ▲ ● ▼
So the World Health Organization is funded by donor countries having dues that they pay, and other organizations can also contribute.
unidentified
For example, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is a major contributor to the WHO.
dr amesh adalja ▲ ● ▼
And then not only does the United States pay dues, the United States also does collaborative grants with the WHO, giving the WHO grants for projects that they may be engaged in.
unidentified
That comes not just from the Health and Human Services Department, but also from the Department of Defense that works with the WHO.
And then there are many employees, for example, that work at the CDC that are technically CDC employees that are what we say is called they're second into the WHO where they're basically working at the WHO, but they're technically CDC employees.
And what the U.S. gets from the WHO is a big seat at the table for where a lot of issues relating to communicable disease control arise.
So for example, when there's an outbreak in a country on the other side of the globe, it's the WHO that gets notified and then the U.S. gets notified because it's a WHO member.
And for example, if there's something where there's a new organism discovered, a new virus discovered, that sequence, the genetic sequence, will be given to the WHO, which will then be given to the U.S., which will then be given to our pharmaceutical companies.
So there's a lot of benefit there, but I think the biggest one is that you want to know what's going on in the infectious disease world as close to real time as possible.
dr amesh adalja ▲ ● ▼
And being part of the WHO allows that to occur because there are many places where the CDC doesn't go, where they don't have great relationships with the Ministry of Health, but the WHO does.
unidentified
And then, so I think that that's what I think is the greatest value: having a convening place where we can learn about what's happening on the other side of the world, and we in the United States can be more proactive about preparing for something or getting resources to stop something from spreading.
That's what the WHO kind of offers above and beyond what we do domestically.
tammy thueringer ▲ ● ▼
Dr. Amish Adalja will be with us for about the next 35 minutes or so on this topic.
If you have a question or comment for him, you can start calling in now.
The lines: Democrats 202-748-8000, Republicans 202-748-8001, and Independents 202-748-8002.
Also want to let you know that if you are a medical professional, there is a line for you, and that is 202-748-8003.
And of course, you can also find us on X, and you can text in your comments at that same number.
Dr. Adalja, this week, President Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the U.S. from the World Health Organization.
What can you tell us about that?
unidentified
Well, this is something that he did during his first term as well, but it's not an instantaneous action that occurs.
So when he signs that declaration saying that he has an intention to withdraw the United States from WHO, that starts a year-long process where sort of those activities wind down.
So we're still in the WHO as of now and will be up until January 20th when the anniversary of that order was signed.
dr amesh adalja ▲ ● ▼
So what that signals is something that he's kind of talked about.
unidentified
This isn't something that's surprising.
dr amesh adalja ▲ ● ▼
As I said, he did it during his first term, but since he was not re-elected, that never really came into action and President Biden reversed that decision.
unidentified
But what it does, I think, is reflect, and we could talk about this, some of his frustrations with the WHO and people's frustrations with the WHO.
But I do think on balance that this is a very drastic way to address concerns that are legitimate.
dr amesh adalja ▲ ● ▼
And I think it will end up being the wrong thing to do if your goal is to increase the United States' resiliency to infectious disease.
tammy thueringer ▲ ● ▼
And when we talk about the, you're saying that we have a year left if we do end up ultimately withdrawing from the World Health Organization, what impact is that going to have on the U.S. when we are no longer part of that organization?
unidentified
I think the biggest impact is what I alluded to earlier, is that we don't have the ability to know what's going on with infectious disease outbreaks all over the world immediately, that there will be a lag, that we won't be at the table when those types of outbreaks come to light, when people are making decisions about public health emergencies of international concern, thinking about what resources need to go.
dr amesh adalja ▲ ● ▼
The U.S. would be more acting unilaterally versus being part of the organization that is the first that's notified and kind of crafts that response.
unidentified
So I think that's what we're losing out on is our ability to know immediately what's going on and coordinate a response with those other countries.
dr amesh adalja ▲ ● ▼
It's also the case that, and I'm sure you're going to ask about this later, is that there are reforms that are needed at the WHO.
It's much less likely that those reforms actually occur if the U.S. is not at that table.
unidentified
So there are real reforms, real issues that need to be addressed at the WHO.
dr amesh adalja ▲ ● ▼
And the U.S. has been at the forefront of bringing these to light.
unidentified
If the U.S. is not part of the WHO, it's not going to be able to actually fix these issues.
dr amesh adalja ▲ ● ▼
And I think it's important to know that we need a world organization that deals with communicable diseases because this is different.
It's not like heart attacks.
It's not like, you know, it's not like hypertension.
unidentified
This is something when it comes to infectious disease, they're a global phenomenon, meaning that they are trans because many of them are transmissible.
They're communicable.
dr amesh adalja ▲ ● ▼
They get from person to person.
unidentified
And they don't recognize a border.
And with the speed of travel and the rise of megacities and how quickly you can get from one side of the globe to the other, every country, in order to be resilient domestically against infectious disease, has to be looking all over the globe for threats that may emanate.
And that's why a communicable disease organization that covers the globe, covers the planet, is something that's valuable to everybody.
tammy thueringer ▲ ● ▼
We have callers waiting to talk with you.
We will start with Mitch in Louisiana, line for medical professionals.
Good morning, Mitch.
unidentified
Good morning.
Good morning.
tammy thueringer ▲ ● ▼
Hi, Mitch.
Go ahead.
unidentified
I'm just wondering if he has practiced at all.
dr amesh adalja ▲ ● ▼
Do I practice?
Have I practiced medicine?
Yes, I just worked the day before yesterday.
So I do practice infectious disease emergency medicine and critical care in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area.
And I have done that since I started my residency.
unidentified
I'm about 50% clinical, and the other 50% of my time is spent with the Center for Health Security at Johns Hopkins.
tammy thueringer ▲ ● ▼
And Dr. Adalja, you also have experience with types of infectious diseases.
What can you tell us about your experience there?
unidentified
Well, I focus a lot on emerging infectious disease.
dr amesh adalja ▲ ● ▼
That's where my research, my policy interests are.
But I take care of patients with all sorts of infectious diseases from an MRSA infection of the skin to bloodstream infections to COVID to influenza to HIV to MPox.
Whatever hospital, when you're an infectious disease physician, you round in the hospital and other doctors consult you on their cases.
unidentified
So that can be something that sounds pretty routine, like an infection of a prosthetic hip, but it also could be something like a traveler coming back from a different country that has a fever or someone who has cancer, an organ transplant, and has an unknown infection, and you've got to sort of sort that out.
dr amesh adalja ▲ ● ▼
So it's a very challenging and intellectually stimulating job where anything can happen and any case can be a very, very important case.
And I certainly saw lots of COVID cases.
I took care of COVID cases before we actually were able to test people for COVID.
So I can't even count how many COVID-19 cases I've taken care of.
And in the last couple of weeks, I've been actually seeing a lot of influenza cases, which influenza is high right now in the United States.
And that's translating into patients in the hospital with influenza.
tammy thueringer ▲ ● ▼
Let's hear from Maureen in Pennsylvania, Line for Republicans.
Good morning, Maureen.
Maureen, are you there?
unidentified
Good morning.
tammy thueringer ▲ ● ▼
Hi, Maureen.
unidentified
Good morning, Doctor.
Thank you for having me.
Thank you for coming on the C-SPAN.
I just have a question or two.
With the World Health Organization, America has paid $500 million towards this organization.
We have donated or gave them that.
Why are we not only doing $39 million like China and then take that other $400 and some million dollars and maybe making Flint, Michigan water healthier for our American citizens and get the Appalachian mountain people, health care, better health care, more electricity, water, help us before we help.
You have to do a hand, not a hand out, a hand up.
And with the American people, we are suffering.
I am lucky enough to live in Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
So I'm going to rattle on, but go ahead, sir.
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