The US Department of Defense is considering deep cuts to programs that prevent the global proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and build security capacity around the world. According to a draft working paper, the cuts could reduce funding for these programs by up to 75 percent, or even lead to their total abolition.

The programs in question include the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), which leads counter-proliferation efforts on chemical, biological, and nuclear threats. DTRA has worked with 35 nations to upgrade their biosafety and biosecurity practices and has helped to destroy dangerous biological samples.

Impact of Cuts

The proposed cuts could have severe consequences, including increasing the likelihood of a lab accident or theft of potentially dangerous biological material. They could also limit funding for counter-extremism programs in Africa and the Middle East, close all mine-clearance operations, and shut down programs to intercept and prevent the development of weapons of mass destruction.

Experts warn that reducing funding for these programs could surrender ground to Russia and China, which may try to fill the void left by the US. This could lead to Moscow and Beijing partnering with foreign militaries, cooperating with biological facilities, and even recruiting new scientists.

The cost-savings of these cuts would be relatively marginal compared to the Pentagon's $850 billion budget. However, the cuts could have a significant impact on global and domestic security, and could undermine the US's ability to respond to emerging threats.