A reporting project by the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting is examining Pentagon plans to spend an estimated $1 trillion to buy a new generation of nuclear weapons to replace the current arsenal. Military commanders and some members of Congress argue nuclear weapons deter attacks against the United States and that the current stockpile must be replaced because it is old and breaking down. Among their highest priority is building 12 new submarines capable of launching a nuclear attack. Critics, however, say the price tag is unaffordable and the Pentagon is essentially rebuilding a Cold War-era arsenal. PBS NewsHour Producer Dan Sagalyn and veteran correspondent Jamie McIntyre will examine the issue in a series of reports.
