Tag: president’s nuclear weapons authority

Pelosi Wants ‘Urgent’ Update on President’s Nuclear Weapons Authority

The following article by Lindsey McPherson was posted on the RollCall.com website October 12, 2017:

Minority leader says proposal is about presidential powers, not about Trump

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi says the current law guiding the use of nuclear weapons is “ancient.” (Tom Williams/Roll Call)

Status: Urgent.

That’s how House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is categorizing the need to update the law guiding when the president of the United States can use nuclear weapons.

“The law under which the president has authority to exercise ‘first use’ is one that is ancient,” the California Democrat told reporters Thursday. “It is from 1946. It was in a different world. And now I think it is necessary for us to address it.”

Pelosi’s “urgent” interest in updating the law on nuclear first use comes at a time when President Donald Trump is plotting the best strategy for responding to North Korea’s continuing buildup of its nuclear arsenal and tests of its intercontinental ballistic missiles. Continue reading “Pelosi Wants ‘Urgent’ Update on President’s Nuclear Weapons Authority”