10 USC § 6121 - Testing of nuclear weapons

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t10/s6121"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "10 USC § 6121 - Testing of nuclear weapons"
title_number: 10
title_name: "ARMED FORCES"
section_number: "6121"
section_name: "Testing of nuclear weapons"
chapter_number: 602
chapter_name: "NUCLEAR WEAPONS STOCKPILE MATTERS"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "STOCKPILE STEWARDSHIP AND WEAPONS PRODUCTION"
part_number: "VI"
part_name: "ELEMENTS OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND OTHER MATTERS"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 119–60, div. C, title XXXI, § 3111(a), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1358.)"
---


# § 6121. Testing of nuclear weapons

**(a)** **Underground Testing.—** No underground test of nuclear weapons may be conducted by the United States after September 30, 1996, unless a foreign state conducts a nuclear test after this date, at which time the prohibition on United States nuclear testing is lifted.

**(b)** **Atmospheric Testing.—** None of the funds appropriated pursuant to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 (Public Law 103–160; 107 Stat. 1547) or any other Act for any fiscal year may be available to maintain the capability of the United States to conduct atmospheric testing of a nuclear weapon.

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**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 119–60, div. C, title XXXI, § 3111(a), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1358.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994, referred to in subsec. (b), is , , . For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in , War and National Defense, prior to repeal by .