Fact Check: did us forget how to make nuclear bombs in 2000

Fact Check: "Did the U.S. Forget How to Make Nuclear Bombs in 2000?"

What We Know

The claim that the United States "forgot how to make nuclear bombs" by the year 2000 is misleading. The U.S. has a long history of nuclear weapons development, beginning with the Manhattan Project during World War II, and has maintained a nuclear arsenal ever since. As of September 2023, the U.S. nuclear stockpile consisted of approximately 3,748 warheads, a significant reduction from its peak of 31,255 in 1967 (Nuclear weapons of the United States).

The U.S. has not conducted a nuclear test since 1992, following a unilateral moratorium on nuclear explosive testing. Instead, the focus has shifted to the Science-Based Stockpile Stewardship program, which uses advanced computer simulations and scientific research to ensure the reliability and safety of the existing nuclear arsenal without the need for new nuclear tests (Transparency in the U.S. Nuclear Weapons Stockpile). This program indicates that while the U.S. may not be actively designing new nuclear weapons, it has not "forgotten" how to make them; rather, it has transitioned to a different method of maintaining its stockpile.

Analysis

The assertion that the U.S. "forgot" how to make nuclear bombs implies a complete loss of knowledge or capability, which is not supported by the evidence. The U.S. government has invested heavily in nuclear weapons over the decades, spending at least $11.7 trillion (in present-day terms) on nuclear weapons development and maintenance from 1940 to 1996 (Nuclear weapons of the United States). This extensive investment reflects a sustained commitment to maintaining nuclear capabilities.

Furthermore, the U.S. continues to engage in research and development related to nuclear weapons through its stockpile stewardship program, which aims to understand and mitigate the aging of nuclear warheads without the need for new designs (Nuclear weapons of the United States). This approach does not equate to forgetting how to build nuclear weapons; it represents a strategic shift in focus.

The sources used in this analysis are credible, including government publications and well-respected organizations like the Federation of American Scientists, which provide reliable data on nuclear stockpiles and U.S. nuclear policy (U.S. Nuclear Forces, 2000, The History of the U.S. Nuclear Stockpile 1945-2013).

Conclusion

Verdict: False. The claim that the U.S. forgot how to make nuclear bombs by the year 2000 is inaccurate. While the U.S. has not conducted nuclear tests since 1992 and has shifted its focus to maintaining its existing stockpile through advanced simulations and research, it has not lost the knowledge or capability to produce nuclear weapons. The historical context and ongoing investments in nuclear technology demonstrate that the U.S. remains capable of nuclear weapon production.

Sources

1. Nuclear weapons of the United States - Wikipedia
2. Transparency in the U.S. Nuclear Weapons Stockpile
3. The U.S. Nuclear Weapons Stockpile
4. America's Nuclear Triad
5. Historical nuclear weapons stockpiles and nuclear tests by country
6. U.S.、USA、America 有什么区别？ - 知乎
7. U.S. Nuclear Forces, 2000 - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
8. The History of the U.S. Nuclear Stockpile 1945-2013