{"id":35944,"date":"2021-12-10T19:53:08","date_gmt":"2021-12-10T19:53:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2021\/12\/10\/defense-bill-orders-biden-nuclear-briefing-for-congress-on-probing-allies\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:55:05","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:55:05","slug":"defense-bill-orders-biden-nuclear-briefing-for-congress-on-probing-allies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/congress\/2021\/12\/10\/defense-bill-orders-biden-nuclear-briefing-for-congress-on-probing-allies\/","title":{"rendered":"Defense bill orders Biden nuclear briefing for Congress on probing allies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2015 Congress would get a window into pleas from allies to the Biden administration not to change policy on the use of nuclear weapons under language in the new compromise defense policy bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The National Defense Authorization Act<\/a> provision follows calls for transparency from key Republicans who don\u2019t want to see Biden declare that the U.S. will not use nuclear weapons for a first strike and only use them to deter or retaliate against a nuclear attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the language, the Pentagon would have to brief Congress on consultations with allies regarding the administration\u2019s nuclear posture review<\/a>, the likeliest vehicle for such a policy change. The briefing would have to happen before the review is published, early next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The top Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Michael McCaul, and House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Mike Rogers<\/a>, asked for the questions and answers to a survey in which U.S. allies reportedly offered a negative response to any changes in U.S. nuclear policy. They\u2019re also among lawmakers who\u2019ve voiced fears<\/a> the review won\u2019t express the Pentagon\u2019s recommended path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen it comes to weakening our declaratory policy, and by extension our extended deterrent, our allies will be the most impacted,\u201d Rogers said in a statement to Defense News. \u201cWe\u2019re not going to let the Biden White House muzzle or mischaracterize the views of our closest allies and partners on this vital issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bill passed the House this week and is expected to pass the Senate next before Biden signs it into law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The administration has reassured allies in Europe and Asia that President Joe Biden would not adopt a \u201cno first use\u201d policy for nuclear weapons, but it\u2019s still considering ways to clarify the circumstances in which Washington would use them, the Financial Times reported<\/a> Thursday. An alternative could be a version of Biden\u2019s campaign trail stance that the \u201csole purpose\u201dof nuclear weapons is to deter and, if needed, retaliate against a nuclear attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\t