Bill > S2422

This bill, known as the Investing in Children Before Missiles Act of 2025 (ICBM Act), proposes to pause the development of the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program, which is currently experiencing significant cost overruns and delays. The bill aims to extend the operational life of the existing Minuteman III missiles until at least 2050 and redirect the substantial funds saved from the Sentinel program towards education. Specifically, the bill calls for transferring all appropriated funds from the Sentinel program and its associated W87-1 warhead modification program to the Department of Education to support elementary and secondary education. The legislation is supported by findings from military and defense experts who argue that land-based ICBMs are potentially destabilizing and increase the risk of accidental nuclear war. To validate the feasibility of extending the Minuteman III missiles, the bill mandates an independent study by the National Academy of Sciences, which will comprehensively analyze the technical, strategic, and cost implications of maintaining the current missile system instead of developing the new Sentinel program. The underlying rationale is to prioritize educational investments over expensive and potentially risky nuclear weapons modernization.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2422/all-info