Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Dina Titus (NV-01), and Jim McGovern (MA-02) led 24 of their House colleagues in a letter to President Trump, expressing opposition to the administration’s reported plans to resume testing of nuclear weapons for the first time since 1992.
“We are alarmed and deeply concerned by your announcement that you have instructed the Department of Defense to resume testing of nuclear weapons,” the representatives wrote in the letter. “The United States is a signatory to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and has not tested a nuclear weapon since 1992. While the treaty is not yet in effect, it fostered a new norm, and except for North Korea, no nation has conducted a nuclear test in the 21st Century. Resuming nuclear testing would be a reckless action that would open a Pandora’s box that could lead to dire consequences.”
The Members contend that the United States can maintain a safe and reliable nuclear stockpile without live testing, arguing that renewed testing would jeopardize both U.S. security and international stability by encouraging other nations to resume their own nuclear programs.
“Restarting nuclear tests would not only betray the memory of those who suffered from past detonations, it would betray our shared responsibility to build a safer world for future generations. Entire communities still live with the physical and generational scars of nuclear testing. We owe it to them, and to the world, to break that cycle of destruction once and for all,” said Rep. Tokuda. “This administration’s reckless, even maniacal disregard for global safety absolutely spits in the face of our duty as Americans to lead with courage and conviction toward peace. I urge the President and his administration to reverse course immediately and honor our responsibility of ensuring nuclear weapons are not part of our future—because it only takes one bomb to eliminate mankind as we know it.”
“Donald Trump has put his own ego and authoritarian ambitions before the health and safety of Nevadans. His announcement to resume nuclear testing in the United States not only goes against the arms control and nonproliferation treaties the U.S. has spearheaded since the end of the Cold War, it also puts Nevada and all those downwind back in the crosshairs of toxic radiation and environmental destruction,” said Rep. Titus. “Russia, China, and North Korea should not be the yardstick by which we measure ourselves. With less than 100 days until the only arms control agreement between the U.S. and Russia expires, now should be the time to step away from the brink and negotiate further agreements, not create mushroom clouds in the Nevada desert.”
“Resuming nuclear testing is not only unnecessary, but also a stupid and destabilizing waste of money,” said Rep. McGovern. “We’ve already spent billions ensuring the current warheads are safe without testing. Instead of creating new tensions, our leaders should preserve the testing moratorium and focus on preventing a new nuclear arms race by pushing for a world free from nuclear weapons.”
Reps. Tokuda, Titus, and McGovern were joined by Reps. Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Donald Beyer (VA-08), Troy Carter (LA-02), Greg Casar (TX-35), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Danny Davis (IL-07), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), John Garamendi (CA-08), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Mike Levin (CA-49), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Eleanor Norton (DC), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Eric Swalwell (CA-14), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Eugene Vindman (VA-07).
A copy of the letter can be found here.
###