On June 7, 2026, the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) wrapped up its 94th annual meeting in Long Beach, California. The USCM is a non-partisan organization of cities with populations of over 30,000 people. Each of the more than 1,500 participating cities is represented by its mayor at organizational meetings, where they gather to debate and adopt policy positions on various issues.
At this year’s meeting, the USCM unanimously adopted Resolution Number 53, titled, “Urging the United States to Lead a Global Effort to Halt and Reverse the Nuclear Arms Race.” This adoption of Resolution 53 comes at a time of growing concern about a new nuclear arms race. Currently, as stated in the resolution, the global stockpile of nuclear weapons is greater than 12,000, with 85% of said weapons in the possession of the United States and Russia. In 2011, the United States and Russia entered into the New START treaty, placing verifiable limits on the nuclear weapons held by each country, respectively. Unfortunately, this treaty expired in February of this year, meaning that there are currently no limits on the number of U.S. and Russian deployed nuclear weapons for the first time in 50 years.
This USCM adopted resolution recognizes that President Trump’s proposed 2027 budget requests a 42% increase in military spending, seeking to raise spending on U.S. nuclear weapons in particular so as to maintain and modernize our “nuclear triad.” This includes plans to develop new ballistic missile submarines, new silo-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, a new nuclear cruise missile, a modified gravity bomb, a new long-range strike bomber, and accompanying warheads for each delivery system. The USCM argues that our participation in the new nuclear arms race is not only unnecessary, but impractical given the massive planned expenses at a time when the average American is struggling to afford basic necessities like food, shelter, and healthcare.
Additionally, the USCM called on Congress to pass the similarly titled H.Res. 317, “Urging the United States to Lead the World Back from the Brink of Nuclear War and Halt and Reverse the Nuclear Arms Race” and S.Res 323, “Urging the United States to lead a global effort to halt and reverse the nuclear arms race.”
The USCM encourages mayors across the country to take action at the municipal level so as to bring awareness to the new nuclear arms race, and the dangers of nuclear war associated with it. One way that mayors may begin to take action is by joining the organization, Mayors for Peace, a network of over 8,500 member cities aiming to create a world free of nuclear weapons.
In voting to adopt Resolution 53, local Berkeley mayor, Adena Ishii, stated that, “There are no positive outcomes from the development or use of these [nuclear] weapons; only mass destruction and devastation. […] I join mayors across the country in calling on our federal government to pursue peaceful solutions and end our investment in nuclear weapons.” Tri-Valley CAREs stands with the USCM in their support of stopping the new nuclear arms race.
TAKE ACTION:
- Email your Mayor and send them the link to the resolution. Check if your mayor is a member of Mayors for Peace (click here to check if your city is a member city).. If they are, thank them and urge them to stay active on these issues. If they are not, ask them to join.
- Urge your Congressmen and Women to co-sponsor H.Res. 317 or S.Res. 323 at the link below.
https://secure.everyaction.com/ry90-uny6Eagb3zRPUVhWg2