Senate Democrats have united against President Donald Trump’s plan to restart nuclear testing, introducing a legislative measure that requires Congress to authorize any such actions. The proposed No Nuclear Testing Without Approval Act is a direct response to Trump’s suggestion that the U.S. would resume nuclear tests on an ‘equal basis’ with Russia and China, a statement that has sparked significant concern among lawmakers and experts. While Trump has not detailed what the renewed testing would entail, Democrats argue that conducting nuclear tests after over three decades of inactivity could provoke a dangerous arms race, with potential consequences for global security and international relations.
The legislation, introduced by Senators Mark Kelly, Catherine Cortez Masto, Ben Ray Luján, and Martin Heinrich, aims to curtail the executive branch’s unilateral power by requiring congressional approval for any nuclear tests. The measure would prohibit the U.S. from conducting a nuclear test unless a foreign nation first does so, and would necessitate legislative sanction for any such action. This is a direct challenge to Trump’s assertion of executive authority in matters of national defense, as the lawmakers assert that such tests are unnecessary and risk provoking adversaries like China to follow suit.
The pushback from Democrats has been particularly strong among Nevada’s representatives, where the Nevada National Security Site has been the primary location for U.S. nuclear testing since 1951. The site, now known as the Nevada National Security Site, is the only location within the U.S. where such tests could be conducted according to the lawmakers. The introduction of the legislation has drawn strong support from Nevada’s Democratic lawmakers, who have expressed concerns over the environmental and safety implications of conducting nuclear tests near Las Vegas, with the state bearing a significant portion of the burden. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto has emphasized that no administration should have the authority to set off nuclear bombs on American soil without oversight or consultation with the states that would be most affected.
Meanwhile, the White House has defended Trump’s stance, stating that the administration’s approach to nuclear testing is aligned with the need for strength and deterrence in the face of global threats. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly has urged lawmakers to focus on supporting the administration’s efforts in strengthening national security rather than challenging the president’s executive decisions. This has led to a contentious debate over the balance between executive authority and congressional oversight in matters of national security.