H.R. 669 — Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2025

This section states eight congressional findings, including that the Constitution vests sole war-declaring power in Congress, reiterates limitations on presidential Commander-in-Chief authority under the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541(c)), and asserts that a first-use nuclear strike without a declaration of war would be unconstitutional. It further declares it the policy of the United States that no first-use nuclear strike be conducted absent a declaration of war by Congress.

This section prohibits the obligation or expenditure of federal funds to conduct a first-use nuclear strike unless pursuant to a war declared by Congress that expressly authorizes such strike. It defines a first-use nuclear strike as an attack using nuclear weapons against an enemy without the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff first confirming to the President a nuclear strike against the United States, its territories, or allies (as specified in 22 U.S.C. 2753(b)(2)).