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Jeff Merkley: “I had a number of assignments, all directed towards the goal…”

Featuring: Jeff Merkley, Democratic | U.S. Senate from Oregon

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Published February 5, 2026 | Video Starts at 06:55

I knew that the biggest risk to humanity was nuclear war. And so this unexpected opportunity became the path for my life. In the 1980s, I joined the Defense Department. I had a number of assignments, all directed towards the goal of reducing the risk of nuclear war. And then I carried those expertise to work for Congress through the Congressional Budget Office, a think tank that weighed in on strategic weapon options and the risks that were presented. (06:55–07:03)

CLAIM

Asserts that his work at the Defense Department focused on reducing nuclear war risk.

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Jeff Merkley

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