{"id":43847,"date":"2021-02-19T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-19T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2021\/02\/19\/pentagon-deputy-hicks-should-say-yes-to-nuclear-modernization-no-to-a-no-first-use-policy\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:40:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:40:44","slug":"pentagon-deputy-hicks-should-say-yes-to-nuclear-modernization-no-to-a-no-first-use-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/commentary\/2021\/02\/19\/pentagon-deputy-hicks-should-say-yes-to-nuclear-modernization-no-to-a-no-first-use-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"Pentagon Deputy Hicks should say \u2018yes\u2019 to nuclear modernization, \u2018no\u2019 to a \u2018no first use\u2019 policy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On Feb. 9, the Senate confirmed Kathleen Hicks as the deputy secretary of defense<\/a> after her testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Feb. 2. Hicks may be the Pentagon\u2019s most influential player on nuclear weapons issues during the Biden administration, and her confirmation hearings shed new light on the administration\u2019s policies in this area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She offered a stronger endorsement of nuclear modernization than her boss, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Her testimony raised new questions, however, about the Biden administration\u2019s nuclear posture, including on a possible \u201cno first use,\u201d or NFU, doctrine. The Senate should seek answers to these important questions in future confirmation hearings with Biden national security officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hicks\u2019 views on nuclear modernization may be even more important than Austin\u2019s. As a former board director for Raytheon, Austin is required by law to recuse himself<\/a> from Raytheon-related matters for one year. Under questioning from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, however, Austin committed to recusing himself for the duration of his tenure as secretary of defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\t