Democrats Push Biden to Limit Presidential Nuclear Authority Before Trump Takes Office

Lawmakers urge changes to require congressional approval for nuclear first strikes, citing concerns over unilateral power.

Senator Ed Markey and Representative Ted Lieu have called on President Biden to revise U.S. nuclear policy before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office in January.
The proposed change would require congressional authorization for any nuclear first strike, while preserving the president's ability to respond unilaterally to an attack.
Markey and Lieu argue that the current policy, granting sole authority to the president, is dangerous and undermines constitutional checks and balances.
The lawmakers have introduced similar legislation since 2015, but emphasize heightened urgency with Trump's return to the Oval Office.
Critics of the proposal claim it reflects partisan concerns, pointing out that Trump did not use nuclear weapons during his first term as president.