Washington, D.C. - Today, Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) introduced the “Nuclear First Strike Security Act of 2025,” which would require the Secretary of Defense to certify to Congress that a presidential order to launch a first strike nuclear attack is valid and legal. The president has the sole authority to authorize a nuclear strike as the Commander-in-Chief, meaning there is no safeguard against an unprompted nuclear attack that would have catastrophic global implications. The legislation would not limit a president’s ability to defend the United States or its allies from nuclear attack. 

“America’s commitment to global peace and security means it must use its nuclear arsenal as a last resort and only after thoughtful consideration amongst its elected leadership. In an age where America’s strategic competitors are investing in their nuclear capabilities and two nuclear powers recently came to blows, the world must know that our country will be a responsible nuclear power,” said Rep. Peters. “This legislation helps America demonstrate its commitment to responsibly employing its nuclear arsenal and guards our country from poor decision making.” 

This effort is supported by:  

Bobby R. Inman, Admiral (USN, Retired), Director of the National Security Agency 1977-1981 

William J. Perry, Secretary of Defense 1994-1997 

Sheldon Glashow, Nobel Prize in Physics 1979  

Louis Ignarro, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1998  

Roger Kornberg, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2006  

Michael Levitt, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2013 

The “Nuclear First Strike Security Act of 2025” provides Congress the means to check the President’s ability to conduct a nuclear first strike without oversight. Specifically, this bill: 

1. Prohibits the President from launching a first-use nuclear strike without certification from the Secretary of Defense to Congressional leadership that the strike is valid and legal; and 

1. Creates exceptions to the aforementioned prohibition to ensure no language in the bill can be construed to interfere with the country’s ability to defend itself or allies from nuclear attack. 

Representative Peters originally filed this legislation as an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act. 

Read the text of the bill here. 

Read a one-pager on the bill here. 

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