Trump Administration Considers Resuming Nuclear Testing,Raising Fears of New Arms Race
WASHINGTON – The Trump administration is reportedly considering resuming nuclear weapons testing for the first time in nearly three decades,a move that has sparked concern among arms control experts and raised the specter of a renewed nuclear arms race with Russia and China. The potential shift in U.S. policy comes as the last remaining nuclear treaty limiting U.S. and Russian arsenals is set to expire in February, further destabilizing the global security landscape.
While the U.S. has not conducted a full-scale nuclear test since 1992, recent statements from administration officials and a renewed focus on modernizing the nuclear arsenal suggest a willingness to reconsider the long-standing moratorium. This deliberation occurs amid reports of Russia conducting its own nuclear-powered weapons tests,adding fuel to escalating tensions. Experts warn that resuming testing could prompt other nations to follow suit, eroding decades of progress in nuclear non-proliferation and increasing the risk of miscalculation and conflict.
The debate centers on whether testing is necessary to ensure the reliability of the U.S. nuclear deterrent, especially as existing weapons age and new technologies are developed. However, many experts argue that the U.S. already possesses sufficient data and capabilities through non-explosive testing methods and advanced computer simulations.
“We saw this play out throughout the Cold War through nuclear testing, nuclear deployments, nuclear investments,” noted Jon Wolfsthal, the director of global risk at the Federation for American Scientists, drawing parallels to past periods of heightened nuclear competition.
During the Cold War, the U.S. conducted over 1,000 nuclear tests, significantly more than any other nation. China, in comparison, has conducted just 45.
Former deputy administrator of the national Nuclear Security Administration, Annie Hinderstein, who served from 2021-2024, stated that resuming testing would not be in America’s interests, arguing that other nations “have more to gain by resuming nuclear testing than the United States does.”
The financial implications of resuming testing are also substantial. Paul Dean, vice president for global nuclear policy at the Nuclear Threat Initiative, estimates the cost of a single test at approximately $140 million.
Robert Peters of the Heritage Foundation acknowledged that while testing isn’t currently necessary, “there very well be compelling reasons to test in the coming months and years. That’s how bad things are getting.” The expiration of the U.S.-Russia treaty and continued advancements in nuclear technology by both nations are driving the renewed consideration of explosive testing.
