On July 16, 1945, the world saw the first atomic bomb go off. The Trinity bomb was tested in the Jornada del Muerto desert, and the immediate explosion was like nothing that had ever been seen before. The test was praised as a success for America during trying times. Still, it spread dangerous radioactive particles across 19 New Mexico counties, affecting 78 towns and cities, according to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists.
The National Cancer Institute found that radiation levels in some areas reached “almost 10,000 times what is currently allowed in public areas”.
Long-term Consequences
Now, 80 years after the “first atomic” bomb, the U.S. government has finally acknowledged its responsibility for the severe health problems that resulted from the test. New Mexico residents exposed to radiation can finally breathe easy, ending eight decades of official silence about the Trinity Test’s health effects.
This long-overdue recognition comes as many original victims have already passed away. Still, their families and younger generations continue to battle unusually high cancer rates in communities near the 1945 test site.
Fighting For Recognition
ABC News reports that families in the fallout zone have experienced unusually high cancer rates for generations, with entire families affected by multiple types of cancer. This has been a known concern for many years, with Trinity victims and their advocates fighting to get included in the compensation program.
The compensation program has had a troubled past, and expired in June 2024 when Congress couldn’t find a consensus on expanding it. Advocates like Tina Cordova spent decades traveling to Washington, sharing stories of families devastated by cancer, hoping Congress would finally listen. Finally, after a lot of effort, Washington was willing to compensate the victims who are still suffering from America’s first atomic bomb test.
A Historic Win
On July 4, 2025—80 years after the Trinity test—President Trump signed a major spending bill that included the RECA expansion. According to the Department of Justice, this law makes New Mexico residents eligible for compensation for the first time.
Senator Josh Hawley announced on his website that people can now receive up to $100,000 if they lived in New Mexico for at least one year between 1944 and 1962 and later got one of 19 types of cancer linked to radiation. This one-time payment is a historic win for people suffering serious health consequences for generations.
Who’s Eligible
According to KNPR radio, the new law helps people far beyond New Mexico. The expansion makes all residents of New Mexico, Utah, and parts of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, and Montana eligible for compensation if they meet certain requirements.
According to The Hill, people already covered by the old law will increase their payments from $50,000 to $100,000. KNPR explains that uranium miners who worked after 1971—previously excluded from the program—can now also apply.
Stories From Those Affected
Those that have been affected by the radiation of the bomb have shared heart-wrenching stories that highlight the real suffering that is still taking place. “I always say we bury one person, and another is diagnosed. That has been the reality in my family for generations,” Tina Cordova told USA Today. Cordova, who survived thyroid cancer herself, co-founded a group to help Trinity victims after watching her family suffer for decades.
According to Military.com, Bernice Gutierrez was born eight days before the Trinity test and believes the compensation could provide an “economic boom” for communities hit hard by medical bills. USA Today reports that Paul Pino learned his entire family was affected: “My brother died of stomach cancer, my mom died of bone cancer. One of my sisters is surviving brain tumors and the other one is surviving thyroid cancer”. These advocates turned their personal grief into a decades-long fight for justice.
How To Receive The Compensation
People who have been affected by nuclear weapon tests need to apply through the Department of Justice to receive compensation. According to Senator Hawley’s website, the application system isn’t ready because officials need time to update their forms and procedures.
The Justice Department warns on its website that “claimants are encouraged to wait until additional guidance is published before filing a claim.” According to Axios, applicants have until December 31, 2027, to submit their applications.
Costs To The Government
According to Arms Control Today, the expanded program could cost the federal government $7.7 billion. This makes it one of the largest victim compensation programs in U.S. history, according to FCNL.
The Congressional Budget Office has calculated this price tag based on estimates of how many people might be eligible and apply for benefits. However, according to Arms Control Today, many advocates worry about the program’s 2028 expiration date.
Limitations
While Trinity victims celebrate their inclusion, significant limitations remain in the new law. According to Axios, the final legislation removed healthcare coverage that was in earlier versions, leaving families to pay their medical bills beyond the one-time $100,000 payment.
As the Justice Department prepares to reopen applications, thousands of families must race against time to document eight decades of radiation-related suffering. The question remains whether America will fully honor its debt to the communities it exposed to radiation in pursuit of nuclear weapons.
