President Trump dropped a bombshell Wednesday when he ordered the Pentagon to start nuclear weapons testing again for the first time in over 30 years. The announcement has folks in Nevada – especially conservatives who believe in limited government – scratching their heads about whether this is really necessary.
Mixed Messages From The Right
The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank that helped create Project 2025, has been calling for the Nevada National Security Site to be ready for nuclear testing. Robert Peters, a senior research fellow at Heritage Foundation, told NPR that while testing isn’t necessary right now, there could be reasons to test in coming months.
But here’s where it gets interesting. Republican Governor Joe Lombardo, who endorsed Trump, doesn’t support Project 2025’s push for nuclear weapons testing in Nevada His spokesperson made it clear last year that the governor opposes bringing back testing to the state.
Even former Republican Senate candidate Sam Brown briefly supported the idea of nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain but quickly changed his mind. It seems like Nevada Republicans understand their voters aren’t interested in becoming the nation’s nuclear testing ground again.
Why This Matters To Conservatives
For conservatives who believe government should stay out of people’s lives, Trump’s order raises some big questions. First, it’s going to cost a fortune. Experts estimate each nuclear test would cost around $140 million. That’s taxpayer money that could be spent on other priorities or, better yet, returned to hardworking Americans.
Second, this is about property rights and local control. Nevada residents have been dealing with radiation effects from past testing for decades. Families in St. George, Utah, and surrounding areas – known as “downwinders” – still suffer health problems from the old tests. One mother, Claudia Peterson, lost her 6-year-old child to cancer and doesn’t want to watch any more children die.
The Government Says Trust Us – Again
Here’s what should really worry limited-government conservatives. Navy Vice Admiral Richard Correll told Senator Rosen he trusts the current testing system that uses computer models and smaller experiments without actual nuclear explosions. The military says the current approach works fine.
But as Peterson points out, the government told people they were safe before and lied about it. Why should we trust them now when they want to restart something that caused so much harm?
What The Critics Are Saying
Democrats are having a field day with this. Senator Jacky Rosen called it “devastating and catastrophic” and promised to do everything in her power to stop it. Representative Steven Horsford said there’s no scientific or national security reason to resume testing since computer models work just fine.
Even international critics are weighing in. Japanese survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki condemned Trump’s announcement. Arms control expert Daryl Kimball warned this could trigger other countries to start testing and “blow apart” international treaties.
The Long Road Ahead
If Trump really wants to restart testing, it won’t happen overnight. Experts say it would take at least 18 months for a basic test, but years to conduct tests that would produce useful scientific data. Some say it would take at least 36 months to resume testing at the Nevada site NPR.
Plus, any move forward would require environmental reviews with public comments and hearings in Nevada. Given the strong opposition in the state, that’s going to be one heck of a fight.
What Conservatives Can Do
If you believe the government shouldn’t be wasting money on unnecessary programs that put Americans at risk, here’s what you can do. Contact your representatives and ask them why we need to spend millions on nuclear tests when our current system works fine. Ask them to support local control and respect Nevada’s wishes.
There’s also House Resolution 317, which calls for the US to lead the world back from nuclear war and preserve the testing moratorium . Whether you support or oppose it, make your voice heard.
The bottom line is simple. This isn’t just about nuclear weapons. It’s about whether we trust big government with more power and more of our money when they’ve already proven they can’t be trusted with the power they have.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
