The New York Times is reporting that the government has quietly begun designing a new generation of nuclear weapons that are meant to be more reliable and last longer than older nuclear arms. Critics of the program say the move could result in a new nuclear arms race. Robert Norris, a senior nuclear expert at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said too little was known publicly about the initiative to adequately weigh its risks and benefits. Norris said “These are big decisions. They could backfire and come back to haunt us.”