Dear Tri-Valley CAREs member,
We are organizing locally for the Livermore public hearing on plutonium pit production while also preparing to go to Washington, DC for this year’s Alliance for Nuclear Accountability’s (ANA) DC Days! We need your support!
The President is calling for $1.5 trillion in military spending during a single year, FY 2027, which begins on October 1, 2026. According to the Office of Management and Budget, this represents an increase of $45 billion, or 42% over the current year’s historically high budget of $1 trillion. And the just released Nuclear Weapons Activities budget request is slated to receive an increase of 29% in FY 2027 over the current year’s already record high number.
This funding level tells the true story of the Administration’s priorities. In the lead-up to his budget release, Donald Trump made the trade-offs painfully clear. In a speech offered at a pre-Easter luncheon, Trump said, “We’re fighting wars… It’s not possible for us to take care of daycare, Medicaid, Medicare, all these individual things. They can do it on a state basis. You can’t do it on a federal.” Keep this in mind as you consider the budget numbers the President delivered just days later to Congress and the American people.
Our trip to DC is timed to impact the nuclear weapons budget process. Congressional committees will be “marking-up” authorization bills, including the National Defense Authorization Act that enables nuclear weapons programs. We will take a stand and demand that Congress take action to stop the funding for a new nuclear arms race!
Here is where you come in. Over the years, you and other members have written letters, made calls to members of Congress and signed petitions. You have come to meetings and demonstrations. You have reached deep into your pocket and contributed. Whenever we have asked for your help, you have responded, every time. Thank you. Your efforts make a difference!
Today, we are asking for support for a particularly essential part of Tri-Valley CAREs’ national work – bringing the voices of our communities directly to Washington, DC to tell our decision makers that we have different priorities than the harm this defense budget will bring. We go to DC this year with a great team to represent all of our membership in speaking truth to power – to the House, the Senate, key congressional committees, and regulatory agencies.
Your 2026 Tri-Valley CAREs “DC Days Team” includes two of our young staff members and three veterans of the organization. (Your team is profiled in the sidebar).
We will be joined by colleagues from around the country who are impacted by nuclear weapons sites, nuclear power stations and nuclear waste sites. Together, we will participate in an all-day training and conduct at least 65 meetings with decision-makers over three days. Then, we will spend two days de-briefing our meetings and collaborating on strategic follow up.
We invite you to participate with us in “DC Days” by helping financially, and we thank you for your contributions in any amount. Your support now helps us make a difference!
In addition to our timing aligning to influence the budget process for nuclear weapons activities funding, we will also be in Washington during the open public comment period for the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement on Plutonium Pit Production.
A major focus of our DC Days meetings this year will be encouraging Members of Congress to submit written comments on the PEIS. In addition, at our follow up meeting, we will be training and providing materials for our colleague ANA groups to encourage their members and communities back home to submit comments.
You can join us for the in-person Livermore Public Hearing on the PEIS on Tuesday, May 12. Also, on Thursday, May 21st at 7:00 pm you can join our virtual Tri-Valley CAREs “Pre-DC Days” meeting. (Zoom Link is on our website calendar). The meeting will include a full review of our DC Days goals, the 2026 DC Days Report, our talking points and the planned events. It will also include other Tri-Valley CAREs program and event updates, including details of the upcoming events.
From our upcoming “DC Days” meetings and beyond, Tri-Valley CAREs is positioned to have a real impact in the coming months. But we may fall short if we do not raise enough money. Thank you for your support and for being part of Tri-Valley CAREs!
For peace, justice and a healthy environment,
Scott Yundt
Executive Director
Marylia Kelley
Senior Advisor
P.S. There are many ways to make your tax-deductible contribution!
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Or, call our office to make a donation by credit card over the phone: (925) 443-7148.
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Send us a check. Use the return envelope in this mailing – 4049 First St., Suite 243, Livermore Ca 94551.
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Make a gift of stock. Donating stock can bring you significant tax benefits. We have an E-trade account and can process your donation simply and quickly.
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Make a bequest and include Tri-Valley CAREs in your will. Nuclear weapons leave a lasting toxic legacy in our community. Will you leave a positive legacy?
Meet Your 2026 DC Days Team!
Question: What do you hope to accomplish at DC Days?
Tri-Valley CAREs Executive Director, Scott Yundt
“This year, I will advocate for cuts to dangerous new nuclear warhead programs, especially those led by Livermore Lab like the W87-1 for the Sentinel ICBM, which is way over-budget and behind schedule, the W80-5 for the new Submarine Launched Cruise Missile and the W80-5 for the new Air Launched Cruise Missile. These proliferating warhead programs are redundant, wasteful and put our community at risk from accidents.”
Tri-Valley CAREs Board Member, Pam Richard
“This year at DC Days, I will focus on the recent expiration of the New START treaty as well as the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). In the age of this new nuclear arms race, it is imperative that the United States be a leader in nonproliferation and not part of the problem.”
Tri-Valley CAREs Nuclear Policy Analyst, Tanvi Kardile
“In my meetings at DC Days this year, I will ensure Congress understand the risks, dangers and expense of the plutonium pit production plan. I will also urge them to comment on Draft PEIS. Given there are no credible cost estimates for plutonium pit production, I will ask Congress to cut funding for new plutonium pit production facilities and the support activities at Livermore Lab.”
Tri-Valley CAREs Senior Advisor, Marylia Kelley
“As a Livermore resident, DC Days provides me with a unique opportunity to make the voices of my community heard by those in power. I will ask Congress to prevent increased plutonium throughput at Livermore Lab, and for to fully fund environmental cleanup. Last year they cut 10% of Livermore Lab’s clean-up budget. The FY 2027 budget request does the same. Our community deserves a thorough and timely cleanup.”
Tri-Valley CAREs Staff Attorney Fellow, Raine Gordon
“This year, I will ask Congress to directly support various House Resolutions that make common sense changes to nuclear weapons policy. These resolutions include H.R. 317 -Urging the United States to Lead the World Back from the Brink of Nuclear War and Halt and Reverse the Nuclear Arms Race, as well as the RESTRAIN Act, (H.R. 5894) aimed at Renewing Efforts to Suspend Testing and Reinforce Arms Control Initiatives to prohibit the U.S. from conducting explosive nuclear tests.”
