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Note: This archive of CRS reports is no longer actively maintained.
For new and updated reports, see the public website of the Congressional Research Service.

Congressional Research Service Reports
on Nuclear Weapons, WMD Proliferation and Related Topics

• Russia's Nuclear Weapons, CRS In Focus, updated September 30, 2024
• The U.S. Nuclear Security Enterprise: Background and Possible Issues for Congress, September 27, 2024
• AUKUS Nuclear Cooperation, CRS In Focus, updated September 24, 2024
• U.S. Extended Deterrence and Regional Nuclear Capabilities, CRS In Focus, August 8, 2024
• Nuclear-Armed Sea-Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM-N), CRS In Focus, updated July 19, 2024
• Nuclear Cooperation with Other Countries: A Primer, updated July 9, 2024
• Arms Control and Nonproliferation: A Catalog of Treaties and Agreements, updated July 8, 2024
• Energy and Water Development Appropriations for Nuclear Weapons Activities: In Brief, updated May 2, 2024
• Energy and Water Development Appropriations for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation: In Brief, updated April 18, 2024
• State Authority to Regulate Nuclear Power: Federal Preemption Under the Atomic Energy Act (AEA), updated November 1, 2023
• 2022 Nuclear Posture Review: Selected Programmatic Issues, CRS In Focus, March 23, 2023
• Advanced Nuclear Reactors: Technology Overview and Current Issues, updated February 17, 2023
• 2022 Nuclear Posture Review, CRS In Focus, December 6, 2022
• National Counterproliferation and Biosecurity Center, CRS In Focus, September 30, 2022
• U.S.-Proposed Missile Technology Control Regime Changes, CRS In Focus, updated May 10, 2022
• Russia's Nuclear Weapons: Doctrine, Forces, and Modernization, updated April 21, 2022
• U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy: Considering "No First Use", CRS Insight, updated March 29, 2022
• Illicit Fentanyl and Weapons of Mass Destruction: International Controls and Policy Options, CRS Insight, March 28, 2022
• Energy and Water Development Appropriations: Nuclear Weapons Activities, updated March 14, 2022
• Biological Security Engagement in Ukraine: U.S. Cooperation and Threat Reduction Programs, CRS Insight, March 11, 2022
• Resurgence of Chemical Weapons Use: Issues for Congress, CRS Insight, updated March 11, 2022
• Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons, updated March 7, 2022
• Nuclear Arms Control After the Biden-Putin Summit, CRS Insight, updated February 28, 2022
• The New START Treaty: Central Limits and Key Provisions, updated February 2, 2022
• U.S. Strategic Nuclear Forces: Background, Developments, and Issues, updated December 14, 2021
• Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW): Budget and U.S. Contributions, CRS In Focus, August 25, 2021
• Conventional Prompt Global Strike and Long-Range Ballistic Missiles: Background and Issues, updated July 16, 2021
• The Open Skies Treaty: Background and Issues, CRS Insight, updated June 7, 2021
• IAEA Budget and U.S. Contributions: In Brief, updated April 5, 2021
• The U.S. Nuclear Weapons Complex: Overview of Department of Energy Sites, updated March 31, 2021
• Long-Term Federal Management of Uranium Mill Tailings: Background and Issues for Congress, updated February 22, 2021
• Status of U.S.-Russian Nuclear Arms Control Talks, CRS Insight, updated February 3, 2021
• The Nuclear Ban Treaty: An Overview, CRS Insight, updated January 25, 2021
• A Low-Yield, Submarine-Launched Nuclear Warhead: Overview of the Expert Debate, CRS In Focus, updated January 5, 2021
• Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) Modernization, CRS In Focus, December 8, 2020
• U.S. Nuclear Weapons Tests, CRS In Focus, updated December 4, 2020
• The Nuclear Ban Treaty: An Overview, CRS Insight, updated October 29, 2020
• Uranium Reserve Program Proposal: Policy Implications, CRS In Focus, April 16, 2020
• Nuclear Waste Storage Sites in the United States, CRS In Focus, updated April 13, 2020
• U.S. Withdrawal from the INF Treaty: What's Next?, CRS In Focus, updated January 2, 2020
• Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund: Status and Funding Issues, CRS In Focus, November 27, 2019
• Russian Compliance with the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty: Background and Issues for Congress, updated August 2, 2019
• The Front End of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Current Issues, updated July 29, 2019
• Nuclear Cooperation: Part 810 Authorizations, CRS In Focus, April 18, 2019
• U.S. Withdrawal from the INF Treaty, CRS Insight, updated February 1, 2019
• Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), August 9, 2018
• New Nuclear Warheads: Legislative Provisions, CRS Insight, February 5, 2018
• Mixed-Oxide Fuel Fabrication Plant and Plutonium Disposition: Management and Policy Issues, December 14, 2017
• Can Congress Limit the President's Power to Launch Nuclear Weapons?, CRS Legal Sidebar, November 9, 2017
• Legislation Limiting the President's Power to Use Nuclear Weapons: Separation of Powers Implications, CRS Memo, November 3, 2017
• States' Obligations Under Additional Protocols to IAEA Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements, CRS memorandum, October 23, 2017
• Redeploying U.S. Nuclear Weapons to South Korea: Background and Implications in Brief, September 14, 2017
• Recent Developments in U.S.-Russian Nonproliferation Cooperation, CRS Insight, October 13, 2016
• Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty: Background and Current Developments, September 1, 2016
• U.S. Nuclear Weapons in Turkey, CRS Insight, August 2, 2016
• Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons, August 1, 2016
• The March 2016 Nuclear Security Summit, CRS Insight, March 14, 2016
• Iran-North Korea-Syria Ballistic Missile and Nuclear Cooperation, February 26, 2016
• The Evolution of Cooperative Threat Reduction: Issues for Congress, updated November 23, 2015
• Renegotiating Arms Control Agreements: A Brief Review, CRS Insights, September 2, 2015
• Arms Control Ratification: Opportunities for Modifying Agreements, CRS Insights, September 2, 2015
• U.S.-Republic of Korea Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, CRS Insights, June 30, 2015
• Energy and Water Development: FY2016 Appropriations for Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Stewardship, June 5, 2015
• In Brief: Options to Help Meet a Congressional Requirement for Nuclear Weapon "Pit" Production, May 22, 2015
• Nuclear Weapon "Pit" Production: Options to Help Meet a Congressional Requirement, May 14, 2015
• Ballistic Missile Defense in the Asia-Pacific Region: Cooperation and Opposition, April 3, 2015
• Nuclear Energy Cooperation with Foreign Countries: Issues for Congress, December 8, 2014
• Syria's Chemical Weapons: Progress and Continuing Challenges, CRS Insights, October 1, 2014
• Russia's Compliance with the INF Treaty, CRS Insights, September 18, 2014
• U.S.-Vietnam Nuclear Cooperation Agreement: Issues for Congress, September 15, 2014
• Manufacturing Nuclear Weapon "Pits": A Decisionmaking Approach for Congress, August 15, 2014
• Bond v. United States: Validity and Construction of the Federal Chemical Weapons Statute, June 20, 2014
• In Brief: U.S. Nuclear Weapon "Pit" Production: Background and Options, March 20, 2014
• U.S. Nuclear Weapon "Pit" Production Options for Congress, February 21, 2014
• Next Steps in Nuclear Arms Control with Russia: Issues for Congress, January 6, 2014
• Syria's Chemical Weapons: Issues for Congress, September 30, 2013
• Chemical Weapons: A Summary Report of Characteristics and Effects, September 13, 2013
• Nuclear Weapons R&D Organizations in Nine Nations, May 1, 2013
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission 10 C.F.R. 37, A New Rule to Protect Radioactive Material: Background, Summary, Views from the Field, December 14, 2012
• Proliferation Control Regimes: Background and Status, October 25, 2012
• Managing the Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Policy Implications of Expanding Global Access to Nuclear Power, October 19, 2012
• U.S. Nuclear Cooperation With India: Issues for Congress, June 26, 2012
• Proliferation of Precision Strike: Issues for Congress, May 14, 2012
• Securing Nuclear Materials: The 2012 Summit and Issues for Congress, March 7, 2012
• Nonproliferation and Threat Reduction Assistance: U.S. Programs in the Former Soviet Union, March 6, 2012
• Fukushima Nuclear Crisis, January 18, 2012
• Monitoring and Verification in Arms Control, December 23, 2011
• "Dirty Bombs": Technical Background, Attack Prevention and Response, Issues for Congress, June 24, 2011
• "Dirty Bombs": Background in Brief, June 24, 2011
• Nuclear Arms Control: The Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty, February 7, 2011
• U.S.-Russian Civilian Nuclear Cooperation Agreement: Issues for Congress, January 11, 2011
• The United Arab Emirates Nuclear Program and Proposed U.S. Nuclear Cooperation, December 20, 2010
• U.S.-Australia Civilian Nuclear Cooperation: Issues for Congress, December 1, 2010
• Nuclear, Biological, Chemical, and Missile Proliferation Sanctions: Selected Current Law, November 30, 2010
• Detection of Nuclear Weapons and Materials: Science, Technologies, Observations, June 4, 2010
• Ballistic Missile Defense and Offensive Arms Reductions: A Review of the Historical Record, May 25, 2010
• 2010 Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference: Key Issues and Implications, May 3, 2010
• Strategic Arms Control After START: Issues and Options, March 4, 2010
• The Reliable Replacement Warhead Program: Background and Current Developments, July 27, 2009
• Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty: Updated "Safeguards" and Net Assessments, June 3, 2009
• The Global Nuclear Detection Architecture: Issues for Congress, updated March 25, 2009
• Japan's Nuclear Future: Policy Debate, Prospects, and U.S. Interests, February 19, 2009
• Nuclear Waste Disposal: Alternatives to Yucca Mountain, February 6, 2009
• Conventional Warheads For Long-Range Ballistic Missiles: Background and Issues for Congress, updated January 26, 2009
• Nuclear Weapons in U.S. National Security Policy: Past, Present, and Prospects, updated December 30, 2008
• Nuclear Cooperation Agreement with Russia: Statutory Procedures for Congressional Consideration, updated November 26, 2008
• Extending NASA's Exemption from the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act, updated October 1, 2008
• Advanced Nuclear Power and Fuel Cycle Technologies: Outlook and Policy Options, July 11, 2008
• U.S.-Russian Civilian Nuclear Cooperation Agreement: Issues for Congress, updated June 26, 2008
• Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing: U.S. Policy Development, updated March 27, 2008
• Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty: Issues and Arguments, updated March 12, 2008
• Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Weapons and Missiles: Status and Trends, updated February 20, 2008
• U.S. Nuclear Weapons: Changes in Policy and Force Structure, updated January 23, 2008
• Nuclear Warheads: The Reliable Replacement Warhead Program and the Life Extension Program, updated December 3, 2007
• Radioactive Tank Waste from the Past Production of Nuclear Weapons: Background and Issues for Congress, updated January 3, 2007
• India's Nuclear Separation Plan: Issues and Views, updated December 22, 2006
• Nuclear Testing and Comprehensive Test Ban: Chronology Starting September 1992, updated December 18, 2006
• U.S.-India Nuclear Cooperation: A Side-By-Side Comparison of Current Legislation, updated November 22, 2006
• Globalizing Cooperative Threat Reduction: A Survey of Options, updated October 5, 2006
• Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), updated September 14, 2006
• Banning Fissile Material Production for Nuclear Weapons: Prospects for a Treaty (FMCT), July 14, 2006
• Nuclear Command and Control: Current Programs and Issues, May 3, 2006
• "Bunker Busters": Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator Issues, FY2005-FY 2007, updated February 21, 2006
• Nuclear Terrorism: A Brief Review of Threats and Responses, updated February 10, 2006
• Nuclear Weapons Complex Reconfiguration: Analysis of an Energy Department Task Force Report, updated February 1, 2006
• Nuclear Nonproliferation Issues, updated January 20, 2006
• Arms Control and Nonproliferation Activities: A Catalog of Recent Events, updated January 19, 2006
• Nuclear Arms Control: The U.S.-Russian Agenda, updated January 3, 2006
• Loss-of-Use Damages From U.S. Nuclear Testing in the Marshall Islands: Technical Analysis of the Nuclear Claims Tribunal's Methodology and Alternative Estimates, August 12, 2005
• Vieques and Culebra Islands: An Analysis of Cleanup Status and Costs, updated July 7, 2005
• Pakistan's Nuclear Proliferation Activities and the Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission: U.S. Policy Constraints and Options, updated May 24, 2005
• NPT Compliance: Issues and Views, April 26, 2005
• The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference: Issues for Congress, May 16, 2005
• Nuclear Threat Reduction Measures for India and Pakistan, updated February 17, 2005
• "Bunker Busters": Sources of Confusion in the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator Debate, updated January 10, 2005
• Radiological Dispersal Devices: Select Issues in Consequence Management, updated December 7, 2004
• Terrorist "Dirty Bombs": A Brief Primer, updated April 1, 2004
• Nuclear Warhead "Pit" Production: Background and Issues for Congress, updated March 29, 2004
• Nuclear Weapon Initiatives: Low-Yield R&D, Advanced Concepts, Earth Penetrators, Test Readiness (PDF), updated March 8, 2004
• Missile Proliferation and the Strategic Balance in South Asia (PDF), October 17, 2003
• Weapons of Mass Destruction Counterproliferation: Legal Issues for Ships and Aircraft (PDF), October 1, 2003
• Nuclear Weapons and U.S. National Security: A Need for New Weapons Programs?, September 15, 2003
• Nuclear Earth Penetrator Weapons (PDF), updated January 27, 2003
• Cruise Missile Proliferation, July 3, 2002
• Preventing Proliferation of Biological Weapons: U.S. Assistance to the Former Soviet States, April 10, 2002
• Chemical Weapons Convention: Issues for Congress (PDF), updated January 7, 2003

  China

• Chinese Nuclear and Missile Proliferation, CRS In Focus, updated October 24, 2023
• New U.S. Policy Regarding Nuclear Exports to China, CRS In Focus, December 17, 2018
• U.S.-China Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, August 18, 2015
• China and Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Missiles: Policy Issues, January 5, 2015
• China: Suspected Acquisition of U.S. Nuclear Weapon Secrets, updated February 1, 2006
• China: Possible Missile Technology Transfers From U.S. Satellite Export Policy -- Actions and Chronology, updated updated September 5, 2001
• Transfer of Missile and Satellite Technology to China: A Summary of H.Res. 463 Authorizing a House Select Committee, 98-549 (PDF, ASCII)

  Iran

• Iran's Nuclear Program: Tehran's Compliance with International Obligations, updated April 2, 2024
• Iran and Nuclear Weapons Production, CRS In Focus, updated March 20, 2024
• Iran's Nuclear Program and U.N. Sanctions Reimposition, CRS In Focus, updated September 23, 2022
• Possible U.S. Return to Iran Nuclear Agreement: Frequently Asked Questions, January 29, 2021
• Iran's Ballistic Missile and Space Launch Programs, CRS In Focus, updated January 9, 2020
• Iran's Nuclear Program: Status, updated December 20, 2019
• Iran: Efforts to Preserve Economic Benefits of the Nuclear Deal, CRS In Focus, updated February 26, 2019
• Iran Nuclear Agreement and U.S. Exit, July 20, 2018
• Withdrawal from the Iran Nuclear Deal: Legal Authorities and Implications, CRS Legal Sidebar, May 17, 2018
• U.S. Decision to Cease Implementing the Iran Nuclear Agreement, May 9, 2018
• Procedures for Congressional Action in Relation to a Nuclear Agreement with Iran: In Brief, September 11, 2015
• Iran Nuclear Agreement: Selected Issues for Congress, August 6, 2015
• Iran's Ballistic Missile and Space Launch Programs, December 6, 2012
• Iran's Ballistic Missile Programs: An Overview, updated February 4, 2009
• Iranian Nuclear Sites, updated August 9, 2007
• Iran's Nuclear Program: Recent Developments, updated September 6, 2006
• Iran: Arms and Weapons of Mass Destruction Suppliers, updated January 3, 2003
• Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses, updated July 31, 2006

North Korea

• North Korea's Nuclear and Ballistic Missile Programs, CRS In Focus, updated December 19, 2023
• Nuclear Negotiations with North Korea, updated December 11, 2023
• North Korea: U.S. Relations, Nuclear Diplomacy, and Internal Situation, July 27, 2018
• The North Korean Nuclear Challenge: Military Options and Issues for Congress, November 6, 2017
• Possible U.S. Policy Approaches to North Korea, CRS In Focus, September 4, 2017
• North Korea: A Comparison of S. 1747, S. 2144, and H.R. 757, January 15, 2016
• North Korea's January 6, 2016, Nuclear Test, CRS Insight, January 7, 2016
• North Korea's Nuclear Weapons: Technical Issues, April 3, 2013
• North Korea's 2009 Nuclear Test: Containment, Monitoring, Implications, November 24, 2010
• North Korea's Second Nuclear Test: Implications of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1874, April 15, 2010
• North Korea's Nuclear Weapons Development and Diplomacy, January 5, 2010
• North Korean Ballistic Missile Threat to the United States, updated February 24, 2009
• Weapons of Mass Destruction: Trade Between North Korea and Pakistan, updated November 28, 2006
• North Korea's Nuclear Test: Motivations, Implications, and U.S. Options, October 24, 2006
• North Korea's Nuclear Weapons: Latest Developments, updated October 18, 2006
• Arms Control and Strategic Nuclear Weapons: Unilateral vs. Bilateral Reductions, May 16, 2002
• Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty Demarcation and Succession Agreements: Background and Issues, April 27, 2000

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