A Colorado Republican will chair the House Armed Services subcommittee in charge of Department of Energy nuclear weapons programs, the full committee’s new chairman announced recently.
Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) will lead the House Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee, which aside from setting policy and spending limits for the entire National Nuclear Security Administration every year also oversees nuclear weapons programs at the Department of Defense, ballistic missile defense, national security space and DOE nuclear cleanup programs.
“As China engages in an unprecedented nuclear weapons buildup, Russia continues its unprovoked invasion attempt of Ukraine, North Korea increases missile test cadence, and Iran inches closer to a nuclear weapon, it is fundamental that the United States maintains a robust strategic deterrent,” Lamborn said in a statement. “I will work tirelessly to ensure that nuclear modernization remains on track, homeland missile defense receives robust funding, advancements are made in national security space, and we achieve offensive and defensive hypersonic technology breakthroughs.”
Lamborn takes over from Democrat Jim Cooper, who did not run for reelection after redistricting in his home state of Tennessee. Democrats lost control of the House in November’s midterm elections. Armed Services democrats had not announced a new chair for the strategic forces subcommittee as of Monday morning.
