Overview
- Chris Wright said the government plans non‑critical system trials that do not involve nuclear detonations and focus on validating components and geometry.
- Trump announced he had directed the military to begin testing, then spoke ambiguously about explosive trials before the Energy Department offered the first clear guidance.
- The United States has not carried out a nuclear explosion since 1992, and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty remains unsigned by the Senate despite a strong global norm.
- The Kremlin warned it would resume its own tests if Washington conducts explosive detonations, responding after Trump cited foreign activity as a rationale.
- U.S. scientists and designated program officials, including Brandon Williams and former Los Alamos director Siegfried Hecker, argue simulations ensure reliability and note the Nevada test infrastructure would be costly and slow to rebuild.