Reps. Horsford, Titus & Lee Lead Demand for Congressional Briefings and Oversight of Any Explosive Nuclear Testing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Steven Horsford (NV-04), Dina Titus (NV-01) and Susie Lee (NV-03) co-led a letter (attached) demanding the Trump administration take steps to bring transparency and accountability to their stated plans to renew explosive nuclear testing.

The letter, which was sent Friday, November 21, 2025, to President Donald Trump, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, and National Nuclear Security Administration Administrator Brandon Williams, denounces the administration’s plans and outlines clear actions to ensure Congressional oversight, including:

• Unclassified bipartisan briefings.
• Assessments of the projected health, environmental, and economic impacts.
• A comprehensive cost estimate of an explosive nuclear test, and more.

Key excerpt:

Renewing explosive testing will resume a dark chapter in American history that still continues to leave deep human and environmental scars. Between 1951 and 1992, over 900 nuclear tests blanketed the American West with radioactive fallout, exposing millions of Americans to devastating health effects, especially “downwind” communities in Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. Decades of evidence from the Nevada National Security Site, the Marshall Islands, and other test regions document the lasting toll of contamination, illness, and environmental damage. Many of those harmed are still awaiting long-overdue compensation under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA). Resuming testing will only compound these injustices, expose new generations to radiation and environmental risk while many are already denied care for past exposure, and further erode public trust in the government’s commitment to protect its own citizens. 

The lawmakers released the following statements: 

“Nevadans know better than anyone how reckless the Trump administration’s reversal on three decades of nuclear non-proliferation is,” Rep. Horsford said. “Some in our state continue to wait for compensation they’re due from 41 years of nuclear tests poisoning our land, air, and water – we cannot allow history to repeat itself. Nevada’s Congressional Democrats are united in our opposition to renewed testing, and our demand for accountability. That means truly understanding the impacts on the environment, economy, and local population. It means being clear-eyed about the full cost of conducting a test. And it means ensuring all of this information is available for Congressional oversight and public scrutiny.”

“For decades too many Nevadans have suffered the consequences of explosive nuclear testing and toxic radiation exposure,” Rep. Lee said. “Experts, including those in the Trump administration, have consistently testified that explosive nuclear testing is unnecessary. Instead of nuclear saber-rattling, this moment demands transparency and accountability. Congress must have oversight over nuclear testing so we can continue to protect our people, environment, and economy.”

The lawmakers’ letter requests the Trump administration take six specific actions:

1. Reaffirm the U.S. moratorium on explosive nuclear weapons testing and immediately halt any preparatory or infrastructure activities that signal intent to resume such testing.
2. Provide a full, unclassified bipartisan briefing to Congress outlining any directives, funding allocations, or site activities associated with renewed test readiness, including at the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense.
3. Publish an interagency assessment detailing the projected health, environmental, and economic impacts of potential testing, including radiation exposure risks to downwind communities and service members.
4. Deliver to Congress a comprehensive cost estimate for conducting an explosive nuclear test—including equipment, personnel, time, and cleanup—along with an explanation of the strategic rationale.
5. Establish an updated presumption of exposure for military personnel, federal employees, and civilians who served or lived near historic or proposed test sites, ensuring expedited access to care and compensation under the RECA.
6. Recommit to the principles and verification mechanisms of the CTBT and reaffirm U.S. leadership in scientific stewardship, strategic stability, and responsible global engagement. We also urge the Administration to renew efforts for a Senate consideration and ratification of the CTBT.

All three of Nevada’s Congressional Democrats are signatories on a previous Congressional letter sent November 3, 2025, expressing outrage at the administration’s intent to test nuclear weapons. More information is available here.

Representatives Horsford and Lee also co-led legislation introduced on November 7, 2025, requiring Congressional Approval for Explosive Nuclear Tests. More information is available here.

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