Organizing for Arms Control: The National Security Implications of the Loss of an Independent Arms Control Agency

Fourteen years since the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) was dissolved and folded into the State Department, Leon Ratz (HKS '13) explores the national security implications of the loss of America's independent arms control agency. In this discussion paper, Ratz argues that the organizational merger has weakened the federal government's decision-making and analytic capabilities when it comes to addressing critical arms control and non-proliferation challenges. Drawing on case studies and wide-ranging interviews that highlight ACDA's contribution to national security, Ratz recommends reviving an independent, specialized agency to deal with America's complex WMD challenges.