Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2023

H.R. 669, the Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2023, would prohibit the President from launching a nuclear strike unless the United States is responding to a nuclear attack or if Congress has specifically authorized the strike through a formal declaration of war. Currently, the President has the sole authority to order the use of nuclear weapons for any reason; this bill would shift that power by requiring legislative approval for any initial use of such weapons. For citizens, this means that a decision to initiate nuclear conflict would require a public debate and a vote by elected representatives in Congress rather than resting with a single individual.