The Truth About Colby’s Nuclear Strategy: Billions Wasted, Security Undermined

The recent Senate hearing on the nomination of Elbridge Colby for Under Secretary of Defense for Policy made one thing clear: if confirmed, Colby will be yet another advocate for reckless nuclear expansion at the expense of national security, fiscal responsibility, and global stability. His enthusiastic commitment to upgrading the nuclear triad, including the controversial Sentinel ICBM program at Minot Air Force Base, shows a dangerous disregard for both military strategy and taxpayer accountability.

If we are serious about protecting Americans, we must question why we are spending hundreds of billions of dollars on nuclear weapons systems that do not address the real security threats of today.

The Sentinel ICBM program—designed to replace the aging Minuteman III—comes with an astonishing $264 billion price tag over its lifetime. Yet, despite its enormous cost, there is little evidence that land-based ICBMs are necessary for modern deterrence.

The Sentinel ICBM: A $264 Billion Boondoggle

Colby’s endorsement of the Sentinel program ignores key facts:

🚨 ICBMs make us more vulnerable, not safer. These fixed missile silos in places like Minot are easy targets for an enemy first strike, making them a liability in nuclear strategy.

💰 The cost is unjustifiable. The U.S. already has a robust nuclear arsenal with submarine-based missiles (which are harder to detect) and bombers (which offer greater flexibility).

📉 Even former military officials have questioned the need for new ICBMs. William Perry, former Secretary of Defense, has called land-based missiles “one of the most dangerous threats to national security” and advocated for their elimination.

Colby’s insistence on continuing this outdated Cold War strategy is both fiscally irresponsible and strategically flawed.

The Military-Industrial Complex Wins, Americans Lose

Colby’s support for nuclear triad upgrades is not about protecting America—it’s about funneling taxpayer dollars into defense contractors’ pockets. Northrop Grumman, the primary contractor for Sentinel, stands to profit immensely from this program, regardless of its strategic necessity.

Instead of wasting hundreds of billions on an unnecessary nuclear buildup, we should be directing those funds toward:

• Veterans’ healthcare & housing—Many former service members struggle with homelessness and medical care while defense contractors collect massive contracts.
• Cybersecurity & emerging threats—China and Russia are advancing in AI and cyber warfare, yet we’re still fixated on Cold War-era missile systems.
• Diplomatic & conflict prevention efforts—Investing in diplomacy and arms control agreements is far cheaper and more effective at ensuring national security.

A Dangerous Future Under Colby’s Leadership

If confirmed, Colby will accelerate the wasteful expansion of America’s nuclear arsenal, putting us on a path toward another arms race with global adversaries. His vision prioritizes nuclear posturing over practical defense and deepens our dependence on an already bloated Pentagon budget.

The Senate must reject Elbridge Colby’s nomination and demand a defense strategy that focuses on 21st-century security challenges rather than Cold War relics. The future of national defense should be about smart, effective investments—not reckless spending on nuclear escalation.