Who have the password for Americas nuclear bombs?

Answer 1

A presidential aide, typically an Air Force officer who carries the codes around in a locked briefcase which is chained to his wrist, known as the "nuclear football," has the password to U.S. nuclear codes

Is is not something that should be posted or even asked about.

No reason not to talk about it. It is no secret anymore. The actor Richard Dreyfus who played General Alexander Haig in "The Day Reagan Was Shot" admitted in a TV interview that the "nuclear football" was temporarily lost after the assassination attempt in 1981.

Also, there is a misconception that the President opens the "football", gets the password, then pushes the button and the missiles fly.

Instead, here's what happens:

1. The President declares a national nuclear emergency
2. The football is opened, and, inside, are two sets of code cards
3. The President carries a code card with him at all times, and, after the football is opened, the duty officer responsible for the football VERIFIES that it is indeed the President, and that the President's codes (from his personal card) match the code card in the football
4. The President then selects an appropriate military launch strategy - the football contains a selection of weapon uses strategies, and the President will select the one most appropriate to use.
5. The Secretary of Defense must then produce his/her personal code card, and have his or her identity verified. The SecDef then verbally confirms the President's authorization and release of nuclear weapons, and acknowledges the receipt of the chosen weapon use strategy.
6. An authorization code is then transmitted; the exact code it generated by the electronics in the football (based on the strategy selected, and the current authorization code scheme in use). This authorization code is sent to the various military commands in charge of the appropriate nuclear weapons.
7. The commander of those sections then transmits the "master" authorization code, along with a pre-generated authentication code, to the people actually manning (or "holding") the nuclear weapons.
8. These "holders" of the weapons then match the authorization and authentication codes with their own secret copies; if they match, then they have a valid launch authorization, and will launch at the time and target specified by the attack plan chosen by the President.
9. To actually launch a nuclear weapon, two individuals must simultaneously activate the launch system. Some systems use keys, others use punch-in-codes, and others mechanical switches. No system can be launched by just one person.

Thus, the authorization of the use of nuclear weapons requires the President, with the consent of the Secretary of Defense.

The actual launch of the weapon requires the authentication code from the military commander, plus the personal codes/keys/whatever of two people in the physical custody of the weapon.