The Nuclear First-Strike Security Act of 2025

The Nuclear First-Strike Security Act of 2025 would place new constraints on the use of funds for any first-use nuclear strike by the United States. Under the bill, no appropriated funds may be obligated or expended for a first-use nuclear strike unless the President determines the strike is in the United States’ best interests and, except in narrowly defined exceptions, a certification from the Secretary of Defense is submitted to top congressional leaders within up to seven days confirming the strike decision is valid and legal. The bill also defines key terms and specifies when the certification requirement does not apply. The core effect is to insert a mandatory funding and oversight check on any unilateral first-use nuclear action, potentially slowing or blocking such action unless specific conditions are met. The bill codifies a clear distinction between first-use actions and other nuclear or non-nuclear responses, and it centers Congress in authorizing or withholding funding for first-use scenarios. It also limits the scope of allies for who could be considered under certain wartime or response conditions. Overall, it increases congressional and DoD oversight and creates a formal process to assess legality and justification before any first-use strike can be funded.