GAO-01-582 Weapons of Mass Destruction: State Department Oversight of Science Centers Program

Since 1994, the United States has appropriated $227 million to support two multilateral science centers in Russia and Ukraine that pay scientists of the former Soviet Union who once developed nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and missile systems to conduct peaceful research. By employing scientists through the science centers, the United States seeks to reduce proliferation risks associated with underemployed, highly trained scientists who could be tempted to sell their expertise to terrorist groups or countries of concern such as Iran, Iraq, or North Korea. Accordingly, the program has employed thousands of weapons scientists in a variety of research areas, including projects aimed at developing new anticancer drugs, improving nuclear safety, and enhancing environmental cleanup techniques. The State Department plays an active role in selecting the research projects for funding that meet program objectives and assuring adequate program oversight.