Bill to bar Trump from using nuclear weapons first introduced to Congress

A pair of top Democrats in the House and Senate reintroduced a bill to make it U.S. policy not to use nuclear weapons first.

The bill was introduced by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Senate Armed Services Committee member who is running for president in 2020, and House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith.

"Our current nuclear strategy is not just outdated - it is dangerous. By making clear that deterrence is the sole purpose of our arsenal, this bill would reduce the chances of a nuclear miscalculation and help us maintain our moral and diplomatic leadership in the world," Smith and Warren said in a joint statement.

The press release from Smith’s office argued the bill would improve U.S. national security by reducing the risk of a miscalculation, clarifying U.S. policy and preserving the ability to conduct a nuclear strike after a nuclear attack on the United States or its allies, the Hill reported.

On Tuesday, a separate pair of Democrats in the House and Senate reintroduced their bill to limit Trump’s nuclear powers. The bill from Rep. Ted Lieu and Sen. Ed Markey would require congressional approval for Trump to launch a nuclear first strike