Restarting Nuke Tests ‘Immediately’ Is a Tall Order
A sub-surface atomic test is shown March 23, 1955 at the Nevada Test Site near Yucca Flats. (U.S. Atomic Energy Commission via AP, File)
President Trump’s surprise directive to restart U.S. nuclear testing has sparked debate among defense experts and policymakers, who warn the move could take years to implement, cost millions of dollars, and disrupt decades of nuclear restraint.
In a post on Truth Social, President Trump said the United States must be ready to test its nuclear arsenal “on an equal basis” with Russia, China, and North Korea. The announcement, described by the White House as a response to escalating global threats, represents a major shift in U.S. nuclear policy.
The last American nuclear test was conducted in 1992 at the Nevada Test Site. Since then, much of the specialized equipment and workforce required for such operations has either retired or deteriorated, according to the Washington Post. Rebuilding that capability could take significant time and resources.
Supporters within the administration argue that physical testing is essential to demonstrate American strength and ensure technological superiority. Others counter that modern computer simulations make live testing unnecessary and that the costs could exceed $100 million for even a simple test. Depending on its complexity, preparations could take six months to several years.
Paul Dickman, a longtime nuclear official, told the Post that the hands-on expertise needed for such operations has largely faded. “The test directors aren’t bureaucrats,” he said. “These people had a lot of dirt under their fingernails.”
Complicating matters, the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration—the agency overseeing the Nevada site—has faced significant staff changes in recent years.
Arms control advocates warn that resuming nuclear tests could set off a global chain reaction, undermining the international consensus that has largely prevented such explosions since the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. Although the United States never ratified the treaty, it has observed its terms. Russia withdrew its ratification in 2023, and North Korea remains the only nation to have conducted nuclear tests in the 21st century.
Analysts told the Wall Street Journal that if the U.S. resumes testing, other nations may follow suit—and they have far more to gain. China, for instance, has conducted only 45 nuclear tests, compared to over 1,000 by the United States.
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