On Capitol Hill
Our most recent week of action on Capitol Hill was packed with action to put pressure on our government and the nuclear weapons companies to embrace the abolition of nuclear weapons and the transition to a green economy.
We started on January 22nd, the 4th anniversary of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons entering into force. We delivered a letter signed by over 140 organizations to President Donald Trump calling on him to sign the Treaty, and we had a small demonstration in front of the White House (photo above) which was still surrounded in barricades and fencing from the inauguration that took place just two days before.
Interestingly enough, it was just the day after our demonstration and letter delivery that the President called for denuclearization at Davos during the World Economic Forum. Read more about that here!
While we were in DC we were able to meet with 12 Congressional offices and 4 Senate offices. On top of that we visited 9 offices of the new members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and delivered welcome packs to them to inform them on the Warheads to Windmills issues.
Highlights: A meeting at the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, where we talked about her Nuclear Weapons Abolition and Conversion Act, which will be reintroduced into the 119th Congress soon! And we were heartened to find that most of our allies in Congress agree that this is NOT a time to be shy about nuclear weapons abolition and climate justice. So get in touch with your representatives and tell them what you are concerned about!
Briefing: Building Congressional Support for the TNPW
On January 23rd we held a briefing with the Friends Committee on National Legislation on building congressional support for the TPNW. Representative Jim McGovern spoke on the importance of the Treaty and finding newer and more creative ways to connect with more people and push for nuclear abolition. Seth Shelden of ICAN spoke on the upcoming third Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW (3MSP), and how impactful it is for legislators – especially from the US – to observe and participate in the Parliamentary Meeting at the 3MSP. Ivana Hughes of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, a member of the Treaty’s Scientific Advisory Group, spoke on the work done by her group and what is expected going forward for them. Christian Ciobanu, also with NAPF, spoke on his work with Kiribati on Victim Assistance and Environmental Remediation. Timmon Wallis, director of NuclearBan.US, spoke on the progress and importance of national legislation to implementation of the treaty.
Inside the Nuclear Weapons Industry
Since several of the nuclear weapons companies are headquartered in the DC/Pentagon area, we took the opportunity to try to inform them that they are in violation of the TPNW, and to urge them to convert their resources to more positive and sustainable products (like climate solutions). Unsurprisingly, we didn’t hear back from Raytheon, Leonardo, and Lockheed Martin.
But we did manage to deliver copies of the TPNW, as well as a notice that they are in violation of the TPNW, to both Thales and Leonardo.
And we did have an in-person meeting with Boeing. We had a long talk with a public relations representative. While he dutifully stuck to the company line that they are “proud of [their] entire portfolio,” we repeated the legislative, regulatory, reputational, and divestment risks that the entire industry is facing. At the very least, they know we’re watching!
Meanwhile, the nuclear weapons industry was gathering nearby at the Nuclear Deterrence Summit in Crystal City. The three-day industry conference is a chance for defense contractors to come together with their government employers and plan their ever-expanding, highly profitable “enterprise.” Protesters gathered outside the summit with banners, chatting with attendees as they entered the summit or stepped out for a break. Two years ago, Vicki Elson attended the conference as press, you can read about her experiences here. This year, I attempted to observe as press but was swiftly removed after security saw me speaking with the peace activists outside. They told me that was a “risk they couldn’t take.”
The Doomsday Clock
Timmon Wallis attended the 2025 Doomsday Clock announcement, the annual symbolic event about the existential threats the world is facing, presented by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. He made sure that there was adequate mention of the game-changing TPNW. Read his story via Pressenza here.