US is producing nuclear weapons at Cold War levels, Energy Secretary says

The US is producing nuclear weapons at levels not seen since the Cold War, Energy Secretary Chris Wright told lawmakers Thursday, as officials warned of China’s rapidly expanding arsenal and nuclear threats from Iran.

“Today, the NNSA is delivering more new nuclear weapons and plutonium reactors than at any time since the Cold War,” Wright said during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, describing what he called the US’s “nuclear renaissance.”

The outbreak comes as China undertakes what lawmakers have described as an “unprecedented” expansion of its nuclear forces, raising concerns in Washington about global power dynamics.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., has warned that Beijing is moving beyond a minimal deterrent and building a larger and more sophisticated nuclear arsenal under Chinese President Xi Jinping.

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“China is building a very large and very advanced nuclear force,” Wicker said, pointing to the rapid construction of hundreds of new missiles, expanded missile systems, missile submarines, and investments in long-range bombers. “All these steps are from and towards a strategy designed to overtake the United States in the next decade.”

Wicker said China’s nuclear buildup occurred alongside a broader push to translate economic power into military advantage, including dominance in shipbuilding, precious minerals and key dual-use technologies.

“Prevention is expensive, but we cannot win this competition,” he said.

For decades, China has maintained a “minimum” nuclear posture, but US officials now say Beijing is building a larger and more sustainable force across land, sea and air platforms. The Pentagon estimates that China’s arsenal could surpass 1,000 operational nuclear weapons by 2030, up from more than 600 today. By comparison, the United States maintains approximately 3,700 active nuclear warheads in its stockpile.

Wright said the US is responding with a major modernization effort, with seven major programs underway simultaneously to ensure each leg of the nuclear triad remains operational.

“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, America’s nuclear renaissance is here,” Wright said.

But some lawmakers have raised concerns about whether the US nuclear company can maintain that pace.

An intercontinental ballistic missile is launched from the Plesetsk base in northwestern Russia during a drill on December 9, 2020. A top Russian diplomat said Moscow is ready for a quick deal with the incoming Biden administration to extend the last remaining arms control deal, which expires in just two weeks. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service/AP)

Sen. Jack Reed, DR.I., warned that the National Nuclear Security Administration is already under pressure, especially after the dismissal of hundreds of qualified nuclear workers last year.

“These professionals are very difficult to recruit and retain,” said Reed, noting that the agency previously had about 2,000 employees supporting the Pentagon’s nuclear needs.

Reed also warned that the new proposals — including an expanded nuclear-capable naval force — could stretch resources and increase warhead production demand that the agency is already struggling to meet.

Meanwhile, Wicker criticized the administration for failing to request funding for the nuclear sea-launched cruise missile warhead program, calling it a matter of compliance with the existing law.

“The United States cannot afford to abandon reliable and flexible means of response while the nuclear capabilities of our adversaries grow day by day,” he said.

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Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Sunday that fuel prices would eventually “come back down to where they were” since the war with Iran began in late February. (Ana Lopez/Getty Images)

The hearing also highlighted growing concerns about Iran’s nuclear program.

During the questions from Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Wright said Iran is close to reaching a critical threshold.

“It’s weeks — a small number of weeks — to enrich that to weapons-grade uranium,” Wright said.

He noted that Iran already has uranium enriched to 60%, and a large amount enriched to 20%, bringing it dangerously close to weapons-grade capability.

“If you’re at 60%, you’re … more than 90% of the way there to develop weapons-grade uranium,” he said. “It’s very worrying.”

Asked whether the US should target Iran’s entire stockpile of enriched uranium — estimated at 12 tons — Wright expressed support for an aggressive approach.

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A member of the People’s Liberation Army stands next to a DF-5C nuclear missile during a military parade in Beijing, China, on Sept. 3, 2025, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. (Tingshu Wang/Reuters)

“I think that’s a smart strategy. Ultimately, the goal is to prevent uranium enrichment in the future,” he said.

Tensions with Iran have also raised concerns about global energy markets, particularly the risk of oil disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

“All the administrations were well aware of that risk,” Wright said when asked if the White House expected a potential fallout.

Pressed on how to reduce the impact on American households, Wright insisted on restoring the flow of global energy, saying the US would ensure the free flow of oil in the region “with or without a deal.”

An unarmed LGM-30G Minuteman III missile sits inside the U-01 monster at FE Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming on July 9, 2025. (Sgt. Michael A. Richmond/US Air Force)

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Wright defended the administration’s push for increased funding for the nuclear program, saying it was important to restore America’s strategic dominance.

“We’ve lost a little bit of our mojo in designing new weapons and modernizing our weapons,” he said. “It is very important that all powers in the world believe and understand that the United States has a superior nuclear arsenal.”