US Energy Secretary: Restarted Nuclear Tests Currently Do Not Include Nuclear Explosions

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright stated on the 2nd that for now, the nuclear weapons testing recently ordered by President Trump "does not include nuclear explosions" but rather "system testing."

The Energy Department, led by Wright, is responsible for US nuclear weapons testing. His remarks are considered the first explanation from the US government regarding Trump's earlier announcement about the resumption of nuclear testing in the United States.

On October 30, Trump said on his personal social media platform, "Truth Social," that due to other countries' testing programs, he had instructed the US War Department (i.e., the Department of Defense) to reciprocally initiate nuclear weapons testing, and "this process will begin immediately."

During an interview with Fox News Channel's "Sunday Briefing" television program, Wright said, "I believe what we are discussing now is system testing. These tests are not nuclear explosions but what we call subcritical explosions."

When asked during the program whether "residents near the Nevada nuclear test site would see a mushroom cloud at some point," Wright replied, "No, no need to worry."

Wright explained that the planned tests involve "all other aspects of nuclear weapons except for nuclear explosions" to ensure the successful triggering of a nuclear explosion. He also mentioned that these tests would be conducted using new systems to ensure that the newly replaced nuclear weapons perform better.

The last US underground nuclear test was conducted in 1992. The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1996 and opened for signature on September 24 of that year. According to the treaty, signatory states commit to ceasing nuclear weapons testing and agree to permanently forgo nuclear tests. The United States has not yet ratified this treaty.