The Radioactive Brink: Securing the American Warfighter in 2026

In November 2024, I warned that the threat of a future nuclear battlefield had never been greater. Today, in May 2026, that threat has evolved from embers on the horizon to a fire at the door.

We’ve entered a "Second Nuclear Age," defined less by the strategic stalemate of the Cold War and more by the proliferation of low-yield weapons and the terrifying new nuclear threat is less powerful—but far more likely to be deployed— tactical nuke designed to kill on the front lines.

The nuclear threat is no longer just about "city-killers" and global apocalypse; it is about the low-yield (aka: tactical) nuclear weapon designed for use on the front lines.

What does this mean for the American warfighter? It means that the probability of operating in a radiologically contaminated environment is the highest it has been since the 1950s. Yet, while we correctly build the "Golden Dome" to stop missiles in the sky, we are failing to provide the medical countermeasures and response capabilities to save the warfighters on the ground.

We must be clear: the "known" threats must remain fully funded. Anthrax, botulinum, smallpox, and nerve agents (like Novichok or VX) remain the "Big Four" of traditional CBRN warfare. They require sustained investment in medical countermeasures (MCMs). However, the Department has an over-fixation on "unknown" or "novel" biological threats that may never materialize at the expense of the known radiological threat currently being loaded onto Russian and, possibly, Chinese missile launchers.

The Path Forward: 2026 Recommendations

To ensure our military can fight, survive, and win on a nuclear battlefield, the United States must move past the Cold War-era mindset that "nuclear use equals total annihilation" and recognize it as a survivable, if brutal, combat environment.

1. Initiate a "Hard-Target" CBRN All-Hazards Assessment

The DoD needs an immediate CBRN "All-Hazards Assessment" focused on the actual capabilities of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. We need to stop the duplicative obsession with "novel" biothreats and focus on the physics of the known threat. To be precise, we must continue research and capability development to counter biological threats, but it must be done smartly focused on enabling warfighter lethality. This CBRN “All-Hazards” review must be completed before the FY2028 budget cycle to ensure resourcing is based on reality, not bureaucratic inertia.

2. Designate the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps as Executive Agent for RN Defense

Currently, the U.S. Army is the Executive Agent for chemical and biological defense. RN medical defense, however, is a "stateless" orphan. Given the maritime nature of the Indo-Pacific threat and the Navy’s long history with nuclear propulsion, the Secretary of War should name the Navy/Marine Corps team as the lead for planning, managing, and procuring RN medical capabilities.

3. Modernize Title 50 of the U.S. Code

Congress must amend Chapter 32 of Title 50 to formally rename it the "CBRN Warfare Defense Program." By inserting "Radiological and Nuclear" explicitly into the statutory language of Section 1522, these threats will be put on equal footing with chemical and biological programs ensuring that RN medical countermeasures are a permanent and legally mandated priority during every budget cycle.

4. Immediate Funding Rebalance in the NDAA and Defense Appropriations

I encourage Congress to realign the FY2027 Defense Appropriations and the FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to reflect the reality of the 2026 battlefield. The United States cannot wait for the FY2028 cycle. Congress can redirect a portion of the "unknown" threat funding toward the procurement of FDA-approved thermal burn therapeutics and acute radiation syndrome (ARS) treatments, as well as the development of shelf-stable field-deployable internal radionuclide contamination therapies, all necessary for the warfighter’s frontline kit.

Building a "Golden Dome" is a magnificent strategic deterrent, but a shield won’t provide universal protection nor will it counter these threats in an operational environment. If a single tactical nuke or radiological device is detonated, our warfighters will need more than just a detector that beeps—they will need medical countermeasures that save their lives.

President Trump’s Pentagon has the momentum to fix this. The threat is known. The technology exists. The only thing missing is the budget. It must start now.

David Lasseter is the former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, where he led policy and strategy efforts focused on counter-WMD operations, emerging threats, and national security preparedness.

image: U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Guyen Miller, an explosive ordnance disposal technician with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, instructs service members on room-clearing procedures during exercise Toxic Wave 26 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, May 28, 2026. Toxic Wave 26 is a joint chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense exercise hosted by Marine Wing Support Squadron 172 in partnership with Pacific Air Forces and multiple Air National Guard units. Conducted across Okinawa, the exercise enhances interoperability and strengthens readiness to respond to evolving threats throughout the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jeremiah Barksdale)