# Plain Language Summary: Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2021

This bill would prevent the United States from being the first country to use nuclear weapons in any conflict. Right now, the U.S. maintains what's called a "first strike" policy, meaning the president could theoretically order a nuclear attack even if no other country had attacked us with nuclear weapons first. This bill would change that by requiring that nuclear weapons could only be used in response to a nuclear attack on the United States or its allies.

The practical effect is significant: it would remove the president's current authority to launch a preemptive nuclear strike. Instead, nuclear weapons would become strictly a defensive tool—something used only after another country has already used nuclear weapons against us. Supporters argue this makes the world safer by reducing the risk of accidental nuclear war and signaling to other nations that we won't start a nuclear conflict. Critics worry it could limit America's military options in a crisis or make potential adversaries less cautious if they believe we've taken the nuclear option off the table.

This bill would affect military strategy, presidential powers, and potentially how other countries view American security commitments. It's the kind of policy change that defense experts, military leaders, and foreign policy specialists have strong opinions about—some see it as a necessary step toward reducing nuclear threats, while others view it as tying the hands of military leadership during emergencies. The bill essentially asks: should nuclear weapons be a tool we might use first to prevent a conflict, or only a last resort after we've been attacked?

Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2021

Lieu, Ted

Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2021 This bill prohibits the use of federal funds to conduct a first-use nuclear strike unless Congress expressly authorizes such a strike pursuant to a declaration of war. A first-use nuclear strike is an attack using nuclear weapons against an enemy that did not first launch a nuclear strike against the United States, its territories, or its allies.