Trump Orders U.S. to Resume Nuclear Tests

President Donald Trump announced he instructed the "Department of War" to resume U.S. nuclear weapons testing, ending a 33-year moratorium that began with the last confirmed U.S. test in 1992. Supporters said testing is needed to modernize aging warheads, ensure the arsenal "functions properly," and preserve expertise among nuclear scientists. Vice President J.D. Vance and former National Security Council chief of staff Fred Fleitz publicly supported the decision. Supporters cited alleged violations of the testing moratorium by rival powers — including claims that China and Russia have carried out low-yield tests — as a primary rationale. The announcement raised domestic and international questions about what kinds of tests would be ordered, how they would be implemented, and the implications for arms control and global security.