Demand Progress

Trump wants to test nuclear weapons in the U.S. for the first time since 1992.¹ The White House is pushing a reckless nuclear policy that could reignite a nuclear arms race between the U.S., Russia, and China.

Nuclear weapons tests pose serious risks to the environment, public health, infrastructure, and national security. One nuclear policy expert said, "I think a decision to resume nuclear testing would be extremely dangerous and would do more to benefit our adversaries than the United States.”² Putin has already floated the idea of Russian nuclear weapons testing in response to Trump’s plan.³

Senator Ed Markey introduced the No Nuclear Testing Act to use Congress’s appropriations powers to stop Trump’s disastrous proposal.

Sign the petition: Block Trump from restarting a nuclear arms race — pass the No Nuclear Testing Act now!

Putin said if the U.S. conducted tests then, “Russia would also have to take appropriate and proportionate responsive measures.”⁴ We cannot allow Trump to undo decades of nuclear disarmament policies.

When he introduced the legislation, Sen. Markey said, “We should not simply ignore the terrible lessons of the Cold War and expose a new generation of Americans to the horrors of radiation sickness. We will not learn anything new about the nuclear stockpile from new tests; we will only endanger our health and security.”⁵

Congress must act now and end this new nuclear arms race before it begins.

Sign the petition: Pass the No Nuclear Testing Act now!

Sources:

1. NPR, "Trump says he wants to resume nuclear testing. Here's what that would mean,” October 30, 2025.
2. Ibid.
3. CNN, "Putin floats the possibility of fresh nuclear tests following Trump comments,” November 5, 2025.
4. Ibid.
5. Sen. Markey Press Release, Senator Markey Introduces Legislation to Prevent Trump from Restarting Nuclear Testing, Blasts “Trumpatomics” for Potentially Reigniting Nuclear Arms Race,” October 30, 2025.