House Democrats sent President Joe Biden a letter, asking him to “consider modifying” the command and control procedures of the U.S. nuclear arsenal. The letter, which was signed by over two dozen House Democrats, requested that the President give up his sole authority to launch nuclear weapons.
Representative Jimmy Panetta wrote in the letter to Biden, “Vesting one person with this authority entails real risks. Past presidents have threatened to attack other countries with nuclear weapons or exhibited behavior that caused other officials to express concern about the president’s judgment.”
The current laws surrounding nuclear launches allow only the President to order a nuclear attack at which point the military is obligated to carry out the order, which could happen within minutes.
The lawmakers proposed requiring more U.S. officials to consent to launch nuclear weapons, including the vice president and House Speaker.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi claimed she spoke with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, “to discuss available precautions for preventing an unstable president from initiating military hostilities or accessing the launch codes and ordering a nuclear strike,” referring to then-President Donald Trump.
Despite her claim in January, the power continues to remain with the President.
