Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik led a letter to U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm demanding that the Department of Energy (DOE) prohibit our adversaries from accessing our sensitive nuclear tests following reports that Secretary Granholm invited officials from Communist China and Russia to observe sensitive nuclear tests in Nevada.
In September at the International Atomic Energy Agency meeting, a senior DOE official invited Chinese and Russian officials to observe sensitive U.S. weapons-related tests. This comes at a time when Communist China is growing its capabilities at an alarming rate and is projected to have over 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030 and Russia is using nuclear saber-rattling to exert pressure on the international community.
In the letter, the lawmaker states, “The Biden Administration’s willingness to allow our strategic rivals this unprecedented access to our sensitive nuclear testing will only embolden their efforts to increase their offensive capabilities. Once again, the Biden Administration is rewarding our adversaries with access to our sensitive nuclear technology while not demanding anything in return. Giving our adversaries unfettered access to our nuclear testing will only work to undermine our interests and worsen the international destabilization we are facing because of the Biden Administration’s weakness on the world stage.”
“I am leading my colleagues in demanding that President Biden revoke this misguided invitation to our adversaries in Beijing and Moscow that grants them unprecedented access and insight into our nuclear weapons,” stated Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. “Inviting Communist China and Russia to have a front row seat for our sensitive nuclear weapons tests will give them invaluable information on how to defeat our nuclear capabilities and improve their own. At a time when our adversaries are growing their nuclear stockpiles to undermine America’s leadership allowing them access to one of our nuclear test sites will only advance this pursuit and lead to our own destruction."
"Our National Labs perform critical national security activities that are bedrock of our defense,” said Congressman Doug Lamborn. “They oversee the stewardship of our national stockpile which maintains our safe, secure, credible, and effective nuclear deterrent force. Allowing adversaries to observe our nuclear testing activities allows them to derive our methods and procedures and this destroys deterrence. As Chairman of the House Armed Services Strategic Forces Subcommittee, one of my priorities has been to strengthen and protect our nuclear arsenal. In the world today, nothing could jeopardize our national security more than losing this advantage,” continued Congressman Lamborn. “I was stunned to hear recent reports of Biden administration officials inviting citizens from our two greatest adversaries to observe U.S. nuclear weapons tests. Russia and China should not have insider access to our testing. Both countries have had ample opportunity to be more open about their nuclear weapons development and deployments and refuse to do so. The amendment I introduced on this matter will halt the Biden administration's latest lapse in judgment."
“The notion of granting America’s adversaries access to our military sites— and enabling them to gain information about U.S. nuclear capabilities— is deeply alarming and fundamentally absurd,” said Rep. Rob Wittman. “I am proud to join my colleagues in demanding the Biden administration explain why they are inviting Russian and Chinese Communist Party officials to access our most sensitive laboratories and testing facilities.”
Stefanik is joined by Representatives Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Joe Wilson (R-SC), James Moylan (R-Guam), Rob Wittman (R-VA), Bill Posey (R-FL), Pat Fallon (R-TX), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), Scott DesJarlais, M.D. (R-TN), John Moolenaar (R-MI), Lance Gooden (R-TX), Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Dale W. Strong (R-AL), Julia Letlow (R-LA), Robert Aderholt (R-AL) and Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. (R-OH).
