Overview
- Energy Secretary Wright and NNSA Administrator Williams are preparing to meet senior administration officials to argue that a test involving a nuclear explosion is unacceptable.
- Department leaders intend to propose shifting the plan to non‑explosive subcritical experiments described as more feasible.
- Internal assessments reported by U.S. media estimate at least 36 months would be needed to obtain scientifically useful data from an underground explosive test, with potential lawsuits causing further delays.
- Wright has publicly said he understands the planned experiments to be non‑explosive subcritical tests.
- President Trump reiterated on November 14 that the United States should conduct nuclear tests like other countries but declined to say whether a detonation would be involved, after becoming more insistent during his late‑October Asia trip.