Eighty years ago, the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing more than 200,000 people. Eight decades after those attacks, we are once again called to change course.
On February 5, 2026, the last remaining arms control treaty between the United States and Russia—the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START)—will expire. Without a follow-on agreement, there will be no limits on the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals for the first time in over 50 years.
We can steer the world back from the brink and toward a future rooted in peace, security, and shared humanity.
New START has provided a vital foundation for transparency, predictability, and some level of trust between the United States and Russia. It has maintained limitations on the amount and types of nuclear weapons both countries can deploy, helping to prevent a costly arms race and reducing the risk of miscalculation.
If we fail to replace the New START treaty, we risk a future where nuclear weapons grow in number and danger—putting the entire world in greater existential danger.
FCNL has long advocated for responsible nuclear policy grounded in diplomacy and moral responsibility, with the ultimate goal of creating a world free from the threat of nuclear weapons. From helping secure New START’s original ratification in 2010 to organizing faith-based pressure for its extension in 2021, we’ve seen what faithful, persistent advocacy can achieve.
Now, 80 years after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we face a new urgent moment.
Congress has a chance to send a clear message: the U.S. must urgently pursue a follow-on arms control agreement with Russia and open dialogue with China to reduce nuclear risks. Two resolutions—H. Res 100 in the House and S. Res 61 in the Senate—do exactly that.
These commonsense resolutions call for new negotiations before New START expires, urge both countries to continue honoring the treaty’s limits in the meantime, encourage diplomatic engagement with China on nuclear risk reduction, and condemn reckless nuclear threats.
They’re not just symbolic. They’re a vital signal of congressional support for diplomacy over danger. President Donald Trump has signaled that he wants to pursue a follow-on agreement, but
What You Can Do:
Your advocacy matters. Members of Congress listen when their constituents speak up. You can:
- Urge your representative and senators to cosponsor H.Res. 100 and S.Res. 61.
- Ask them to publicly support new negotiations to replace New START.
This effort is urgent for preventing immediate risks and an important step on the road to broader nuclear disarmament efforts.
Together, we can steer the world back from the brink of a new nuclear arms race and toward a future rooted in peace, security, and shared humanity.
