The U.S. president is the only person who can order a nuclear strike. The president is not required to consult with anyone before doing so.
“I can go into my office and pick up the telephone, and in 25 minutes, 70 million people will be dead.” – Former U.S. President Richard Nixon, 1975 (reportedly)
“…the President is the sole nuclear launch authority…” – Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, 2021
The authority to launch any or all of the United States’ nearly 4,000 nuclear weapons currently rests with only one person: the president, essentially making them a nuclear monarch.
We at Council for a Livable World don’t think the president — any president, regardless of party — should have that pressure or the power to start a nuclear war. We have long argued on Capitol Hill that Congress needs to be more proactive when it comes to restricting the first use of nuclear weapons and reasserting its Constitutional power to declare war.
We need your help to urge your Members of Congress to have a serious conversation about how the decision to launch nuclear weapons is made and enact legislation to reduce the risk of nuclear war.
Urge your Senators and Representative to Take Action on Nuclear Command and Control
Here’s what Congress should discuss:
- A bill reintroduced by Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA-36) that would require Congressional approval before a president could launch a nuclear attack, known as a “nuclear first strike.” This would not restrict a president’s ability to respond to a nuclear attack.
- A bill introduced by Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA-52) that would add the Secretary of Defense as an additional voice and check in the nuclear-first-strike decision chain.
- Other options to expand the nuclear chain of command.
- Declaring a “No First Use” policy that would simply say the United States will not start a nuclear war.
Nuclear weapons are the most destructive weapons known to humanity.
The danger of nuclear war is higher than it has been in decades. It is past time for Congress to consider measures to lower the risk of catastrophe.
Tell your Members of Congress today that we need legislative solutions to ensure no one person in the United States can start a nuclear war.
