This report provides background on radiological dispersal devices (RDDs) and provides an understanding of these weapons in order to aid Congress in its 'oversight' and funding of programmes to counter them.

The report offers observations and options for Congress, comparing RDDs and nuclear weapons, but does not address chemical or biological weapons.

The report raises several issues for Congress, including the priority for countering RDDs, whether to establish a radiation detection system in cities, readiness for decontamination following an RDD attack, how to improve radiological forensics capability, whether to modify certain personnel reliability standards and whether to modify the pace of a programme for implementing certain security enhancements for US radioactive sources.