WASHINGTON, DC – Last week, during a confirmation hearing in the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee for the nominee to be Commander of U.S. Strategic Command, Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) slammed Donald Trump’s reckless comments about resuming nuclear weapons testing in the United States. Most recently, Senator Rosen led members of the Nevada Congressional delegation in sending a letter to the Trump Administration expressing their outrage over the President’s comments and demanded clarity on what exactly resuming nuclear testing would entail. During the nuclear testing era, millions of people and acres of land were contaminated by radiation, and Nevada is still suffering the consequences. Since President George H.W. Bush signed the testing moratorium in 1992, the Nevada National Security Sites has safely conducted non-explosive experiments to certify the reliability, safety, and effectiveness of our nuclear stockpile.
This year, Senator Rosen has led the fight to prevent the resumption of explosive nuclear testing in Nevada. She secured promises from several Trump administration officials during their confirmation hearings to not resume nuclear testing. These included National Nuclear Security Administration Administrator Brandon Williams, Principal Deputy Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration Vice Admiral Scott Pappano (Ret.), and the nominee to be National Nuclear Security Administration Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs Dave Beck.
Nevada Independent: Nevada Democrats demand clarity on Trump’s nuclear testing threats
By Mini Racker
- Nevada Democrats in Congress are demanding clarity on President Donald Trump’s suggestion to resume nuclear testing in a Monday letter to the administration, shared first with The Nevada Independent.
- “We write to express our outrage and unequivocal opposition to President Trump’s reckless directive to resume explosive nuclear weapons testing and to demand clarification,” the five Democrats in the state’s congressional delegation wrote in the letter, which was led by Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV). “While [Energy Secretary Chris Wright] has tried to clarify President Trump’s Truth Social post, the president’s directive announced last week on Truth Social is unnecessary, dangerous, and scientifically unjustified.”
- The letter requests details on what exactly resumed nuclear testing would entail and sought a commitment from the president that he would not restart explosive tests. It follows Trump’s Wednesday post in which he wrote, “Because of other [countries’] testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately.”
- That announcement immediately sparked concern among Nevada Democrats, since the Nevada National Security Site would be a likely venue for any future nuclear tests. The United States’ last such tests took place there in 1992, but the explosions that did occur exposed Nevada residents and land to toxic radiation.
- Democrats are asking the administration to “reaffirm the U.S. moratorium on explosive nuclear weapons testing and immediately halt any preparatory activities that could signal intent to resume such testing, especially at the Nevada National Security Site.” They also request the administration brief Congress on how AI could provide more certainty about stockpile performance and provide an estimate of the costs of conducting explosive tests.
KOLO Reno: Rosen, Horsford Pen Letter Demanding Answers From Trump on Nuclear Testing
Anchor: “Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen and Congressman Steven Horsford are sending a letter to the Trump administration expressing outrage at recent news that the administration intends to resume testing nuclear weapons. Last week the president said the testing would resume because other nations were doing so. He didn’t clarify if he meant explosives, which haven’t been tested in the U.S. since 1992. Over the weekend Energy Secretary Chris Wright clarified, saying the testing would involve “the other parts of a nuclear weapon.” In their letter, Rosen and Horsford calling the president’s announcement unnecessary, dangerous, and scientifically unjustified. Going on to say ‘it threatens to reawaken one of the darkest chapters in Nevada’s history, they argue Nevada has been uniquely impacted by America’s past nuclear testing and that many Nevadans are still waiting for justice and compensation under the radiation exposure compensation act.’”
KOLO Reno: Rosen Grills Nominee for Strategic Command About Nuclear Testing
Anchor: “Senator Jacky Rosen pushing back after President Trump said he wants the U.S. to resume nuclear weapons testing. He says it’s needed to keep up with China and Russia. Although he has not yet revealed where that would happen, most of the country’s previous bomb testing was located near Las Vegas. For 40 years 100 atmospheric and 828 underground tests were conducted at that site until a moratorium was signed to end it in 1992. The senator says millions of people and acres of land were contaminated by radiation costing billions of dollars in compensation and she grilled the nominee for the commander of U.S. strategic command about why it’s needed.”
NewsNation: Rosen Says Nuclear Testing Will be Catastrophic
Anchor: “Here is what senator Jacky Rosen had to say this week. Let’s listen.”
Senator Rosen: “We like to say in Nevada ‘What happens and las vegas stays in vegas.’ But if you start those explosive nuclear tests, I can tell you that every bit of air, every bit of ground water, every bit of soil across these United States will be contaminated with radiation and everyone in this country will suffer, not just the people of Nevada.”
KTVN Reno: Rosen Pushes Back on Trump Plans to Resume Nuclear Testing
Anchor: “President Trump announced the United States will restart its testing of nuclear weapons. This comes after Russia announced their promise to do the same. Senator Jacky Rosen talked about the announcement during the senate hearing today. She discussed how Nevada was already used as a test site from the 50’s to the early 90’s.”
Senator Rosen: “During this era which we must not return to, millions of people and acres of land were contaminated by radiation and my state of Nevada is still suffering.”
Anchor: “While major nuclear powers have not conducted nuclear tests in decades… the president may have been referring to the testing of missile delivery systems. Senator Rosen said she would do everything she can to try to prevent nuclear tests from resuming.”
KRNV Reno: Senator Rosen Slams Trump for Nuclear Testing Plans
Anchor: “Senator Jacky Rosen slammed president Trump for his comments about restarting nuclear testing. She said, in part, as everyone knows, the Nevada test site, now known as the Nevada national security site, was ground zero for the majority of the United states explosive nuclear testing from 1951 up until 1992, and during this era, which we must not return to, she says. Millions of people and acres of land were contaminated by radiation. She says, my state of Nevada is still suffering the consequences. Rosen continued on, saying that if nuclear testing restarted, the radiation exposure and destruction would be felt across the nation.”
KLAS Las Vegas: Rosen Speaks out on Nuclear Testing in Senate Hearing
Anchor: “Nevada democratic senator Jacky Rosen speaking on the update during Thursday’s confirmation hearing for the nominee to be commander of U.S. strategic command. Vice admiral Richard Coral.”
Senator Rosen: “Tell us in your expert opinion. Are explosive nuclear tests necessary? Yes or no.?”
Anchor: “Senator Rosen asking questions about the current way our nuclear stockpiles are tested at the Nevada national security site outside of Las Vegas.”
KSNV Las Vegas: Rosen on Trump’s Plans to Resume Nuclear Testing: “Reckless”
Anchor: “Today on capitol hill, senator Jacky Rosen called trump’s plans reckless.”
Senator Rosen: “During this era, which we must not return to. millions of people and acres of land were contaminated by radiation. and my state of Nevada is still suffering the consequences if this resumption happens, the amount of radiation exposure and destruction would be felt across the country and around the world. Make no mistake, this would be devastating and catastrophic.”
Anchor: “Rosen also says the plans contradict promises made by several trump administration officials, who vowed during their confirmation hearings to not resume nuclear testing.”
Univision Las Vegas: Rosen Speaks out on Nuclear Testing
Anchor: “La senadora Jacky Rosen reaccionó con indignación al anuncio del expresidente Donald Trump sobre la reanudación de pruebas nucleares. Rosen calificó la medida como imprudente, irresponsable y peligrosa, prometiendo luchar para evitar que nevada vuelva a sufrir los efectos. el legado atómico.”
Telemundo Las Vegas: Rosen Condemns Plans to Resume Nuclear Testing
Anchor: “Y así lo afirmó la senadora demócrata Jacky Rosen, quien asegura que en el pasado la era de las pruebas nucleares en Nevada dejó una contaminación radiactiva permanente en millones de hectáreas. everything i can in my power as a senador dice que hará lo posible para que esto no suceda. así lo afirmó Rosen en una audiencia del comité de servicios armados del senado este jueves.”
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