National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

The primary responsibility for the safety, security and control of U.S. nuclear weapons is shared through the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) by the Department of Defense (DOD) and Department of Energy (DOE). A 1983 DOD-DOE Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), signed by the secretaries of defense and energy, reaffirmed “the obligation of the DOD and the DOE to protect public health and safety provides the basic premise for dual-agency judgment and responsibility for safety, security, and control of nuclear weapons.” (The Nuclear Matters Handbook 2013) The United States stopped producing nuclear weapons over 20 years ago. The nuclear weapons complex (NWC), administered by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), …show more content…
(National Nuclear Security Administration 2015) The DOE is responsible for the transportation of weapons to and from their destination. There are, however, overlaps in responsibility between the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy, requiring the two departments to work closely regarding agency boundaries. (The Nuclear Matters Handbook 2013) The agency responsible for overseeing the cleanup of the nation’s nuclear weapons complex is The Office of Environmental Management. (EM) Leftover from the Cold War, contamination from large amounts of radioactive and toxic waste are spread throughout nuclear weapons facilities around the country. The agency has succeeded in cleaning up 90 nuclear sites and continues its clean- up efforts at 17 additional sites located in 11 states. (Energy.gov