Sponsors (26)
The bill eliminates explosive nuclear testing to protect communities and reduce cleanup costs while preserving subcritical testing for weapons assurance, but it narrows a federal tool that could constrain certain weapons-development options and may require costlier alternatives and change local defense-related economic plans.
Communities near former or potential test sites (rural and urban) will face lower risk of radioactive contamination and radiation exposure because explosive nuclear testing is prohibited.
The bill preserves the ability to run subcritical tests, allowing weapons safety and reliability assessments to continue without full-scale nuclear detonations.
Taxpayers are likely to avoid some long-term cleanup and public-health costs because banning explosive tests reduces the chance of new test-related contamination needing remediation and medical care.
Military personnel and veterans may face reduced assurance options for certain weapons-development or validation activities because a federal tool (explosive testing) is taken off the table, which some argue could affect long-term deterrent confidence.
Restricting the use of FY2026 and other appropriated funds for explosive testing could constrain program options and force use of alternative test methods that may be more expensive, shifting costs or limiting capabilities.
State and local governments and contractors near test areas may see altered planning assumptions and reduced defense-related economic activity because explosive testing is no longer a possible activity to base local plans or contracts on.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Introduced October 31, 2025 by Alice Costandina Titus · Last progress October 31, 2025
Prohibits the United States from conducting any explosive nuclear weapon test or any other nuclear explosion, and bars the use of FY2026 funds or any funds otherwise made available for any fiscal year to conduct such explosive testing. The amendment preserves the United States' ability to carry out subcritical nuclear tests and defines a subcritical test as one that uses fissile materials not capable of sustaining an explosive nuclear chain reaction.