Watch the full exchange HERE.
WASHINGTON DC – During a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) secured a commitment from the nominee to be the Principal Deputy Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration, Vice Admiral Scott Pappano, that he would oppose resuming explosive nuclear testing in Nevada at the Nevada National Security Site. From 1951 to 1992, the Site was ground zero for the majority of the United States’ explosive nuclear testing, when 100 atmospheric and 828 underground tests were conducted at the Site. During this era, millions of people and acres of land across the Southwest were contaminated by radiation. In lieu of testing, the Nevada National Security Site now conducts subcritical experiments in an underground laboratory to certify the reliability, safety, and effectiveness of our nuclear stockpile without conducting explosive testing. Last month, Senator Rosen secured a similar commitment from the nominee to lead the National Nuclear Security Administration to not advocate for resuming nuclear testing in Nevada.
Below are excerpts from the exchange:
Senator Rosen: If President Trump sought your counsel on restarting explosive testing, would you advise the resumption of explosive nuclear testing?
Admiral Pappano: Based on what you suggested there, Senator, thank you for the question, but if confirmed, I would not advocate for nuclear testing based on the amount of data we have from explosive testing, our extensive modeling simulation capabilities, subcritical testing capabilities, and the annual verification.
Senator Rosen: The second question I’m going to ask you is, given that the stockpile has been annually certified as safe and effective without explosive testing, do you see any technical or strategic justification for resuming explosive testing?
Admiral Pappano: Thank you, Senator. Again, based on the amount of explosive data we have, modeling and simulation capability, subcritical testing capabilities at the Nevada Test Site, among other places, and that annual verification, I do not see a need to return to explosive testing and would not advocate for that if confirmed.
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