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119-s-3356119th Congress

HALT Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]

Introduced

Summary

This bill pushes U.S. policy toward verifiable multilateral arms‑control. It also conditions any explosive nuclear-weapons test on a presidential report and a specific act of Congress so tests cannot proceed absent congressional approval.

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  • U.S. diplomacy and verification: directs the United States to lead talks with all nuclear-armed states to cut and verify arsenals, resume on-site inspections under the New START framework, seek numerical ceilings on delivery systems and warheads for the P5 (aiming for 2019 levels), and press for no-first-use transparency.
  • Nuclear testing and congressional control: prohibits using funds for explosive nuclear tests unless the President submits an addendum to the annual stockpile report and Congress enacts a joint resolution. The restriction covers funds for fiscal year 2026 or later and earlier-year funds that remain available at enactment.
  • Treaty and technical limits: urges ratifying the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, pushes for wider International Atomic Energy Agency access for NPT noncompliance, advances talks on a fissile-material treaty, calls limits on hypersonic delivery systems, and seeks to avoid new warhead designs that would drive renewed testing while preserving zero-yield stockpile stewardship.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Ban federal funding for nuclear tests

This bill would prohibit using federal funds to conduct or prepare for any explosive nuclear weapons test that produces yield. The ban would cover funds authorized for fiscal year 2026 and later, and prior-year funds still available as of enactment. The ban would remain until the President submits an addendum to the annual report (50 U.S.C. 2525) describing any change in the stockpile, and Congress enacts a joint resolution approving the test. The bill would still allow stockpile stewardship consistent with the zero-yield standard and would state a policy to avoid new warhead designs and seek reciprocal commitments from other nuclear states.

Push to ratify the nuclear test ban

This bill would direct the President to seek Senate ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. It would also urge Annex 2 countries to ratify the treaty to hasten its entry into force. If the treaty enters into force, onsite inspection powers would become available to investigate alleged nuclear tests by parties.

U.S. goals to reduce nuclear arms

This bill would set U.S. goals to negotiate multilateral arms-control agreements with all nuclear-armed countries. It would push to resume on-site inspections under New START and seek a follow-on treaty that could lower central limits and cover new delivery systems. It would call for a verifiable freeze on testing, production, and deployment, and for numerical ceilings on deployed delivery systems and warheads at August 2, 2019 levels for the P5 where possible. It would also urge no-first-use or clearer declaratory policies, limits on launch-on-warning postures, protections for nuclear command and control systems, expanded IAEA access for noncompliance, and transparency or limits on hypersonic weapons.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]

MA • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 12/4/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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