U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration

Established by Congress in 2000, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy. Its primary missions include maintaining the safety, security, and effectiveness of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile; reducing global dangers from weapons of mass destruction through nonproliferation efforts; providing nuclear propulsion for the U.S. Navy; and responding to nuclear and radiological emergencies. The agency provides funding through grants and cooperative agreements to private sector companies, universities, and laboratories to advance its national security mission, such as establishing a domestic supply of critical medical isotopes without using highly enriched uranium.