A prime purpose of the Department of Energy’s (Department) Stockpile Stewardship Program is to
maintain a “high confidence” in the nuclear weapons stockpile so that the Department can certify to the
President that there is no need to resume underground testing. To fulfill the responsibility for the annual
reporting and certification requirement, the Directors of the three Department nuclear weapons laboratories
annually assess and report the condition of the weapon systems for which their laboratories are responsible.
The laboratory Directors rely on a robust alternative program for “science-based” weapons evaluation. The
overall performance of the Department’s Stockpile Stewardship Program is one of its highest national
security priorities.
