The United States will change its nuclear weapons policy for the first time in eleven years to bolster its non-nuclear combat power and better respond to the new security environment. 

In a report submitted to Congress, the U.S. Department of Defense said it will scale down nuclear weaponry in its military power and strengthen non-nuclear capabilities. The department will draft a concrete operational plan to strike down enemy forces without using nuclear weapons. 

The DOD plans to conclude revising military guidelines and plans by the end of next year.

This is only the third time since the end of the Cold War for the DOD to release a report to revise its nuclear weapons policy.