As New START Is Set to Expire, Markey Pushes Trump Administration to Recommit the United States to Arms Control with Russia

Washington (February 4, 2026) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), co-chair of the bicameral Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group, today released the following statement urging the Trump administration to recommit the United States to arms control agreements to prevent a new nuclear arms race.
Senator Markey’s statement comes as the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) is set to expire on Thursday; with New START’s expiration, there will be no legal limits on U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear forces, reversing decades of work to reduce the risk of nuclear war. Last year, Senator Markey introduced aresolutionpushing the Trump administration to work with Russia to replace New START.
“The expiration of New START brings great risk for a dangerous and costly nuclear arms race between the United States, Russia and China,”said Senator Markey. “The Trump administration’s aggressive foreign policy posture makes it even more likely that Washington and Moscow will increase their nuclear arsenals, and that China will follow. As the Doomsday Clock ticks closer and closer to midnight, we must replace New START as soon as we can. We cannot wait any longer.”
As a founder of the national Nuclear Freeze movement, Senator Markey has worked for decades to end the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Senator Markey has long championed deep and verifiable reductions in nuclear arsenals.
###