The Pentagon Tuesday issued a two-page fact sheet on the nuclear posture review that is underway with the intent of establishing US nuclear deterrence policy, strategy, and force posture for the next five to 10 years. It will also provide a basis for negotiations with Russia on additional nuclear force reductions. An unclassified report with the findings of the review will be submitted to Congress in December, along with the quadrennial defense review, which commenced in April. Primary Defense Department responsibility for conducting the NPR resides with the under secretary of defense for policy and the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. There are four working groups for the review: policy and strategy; capabilities, force structure and programs; nuclear weapon stockpile and infrastructure; and international dimensions. The Pentagon says it is in direct consultation with the Secretary of Energy and Secretary of State during the review.
A provision in the fiscal 2025 defense policy bill will require the Defense Department to include the military occupational specialty of service members who die by suicide in its annual report on suicide deaths, though it remains to be seen how much data the department will actually disclose.