Rep. Garamendi on Plutonium Pit Production: A Cycle of Thoughtlessness

Concerns Over Plutonium Pit Production

• 💡 John Garamendi argues that the U.S. is stuck in a cycle of thoughtlessness regarding plutonium pit production for nuclear weapons.
• ⚠️ The manufacturing of plutonium pits is described as an extremely sensitive, dangerous, and extraordinarily expensive process requiring secure facilities.
• 🎯 Current law mandates the production of 80 pits per year by 2006, a target deemed unrealistic and unachievable by 2008, 2030, or even 2035.

Challenges with Production Facilities

• 🔬 The primary facility at Los Alamos has a theoretical limit of 30 pits per year, with actual production likely being lower.
• 💰 A repurposed facility in South Carolina (Savannah River) is undergoing multi-billion dollar construction, but is not expected to be operational for pit production within the next decade.
• ⏳ The entire process of building the facility and equipping it for pit manufacturing is a time-consuming and extraordinarily expensive herculean task.

Questioning the Need for New Pits

• ❓ Garamendi questions the necessity of producing new pits when thousands of existing pits are available from dismantled nuclear weapons.
• 🤔 He suggests exploring the repurposing of existing pits for new nuclear weapons, rather than solely focusing on new production.
• 💸 The NNSA's justification for pit production is seen as circular: "we must produce the pit so that we can produce a pit."

Opposition to Garamendi's Amendment

• 🚫 Rep. Dejar opposes the amendment, stating that nullifying pit production deadlines is not the answer and that changes should be based on the Department of Defense's needs.
• 🇺🇸 Rep. Wilson supports plutonium pit production and modernization for national security, citing adversaries like Russia and China who have modern facilities.
• 🤝 Wilson emphasizes the professionalism of employees at the Savannah River site and the need to reestablish critical capabilities due to aging plutonium, global risks, and weapons modernization.

Vote on the Amendment

• 🗳️ The amendment offered by Mr. Garamendi was put to a vote and the "noes" appeared to have it, with a recorded vote requested and postponed.