Budget & Policy

Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) criticized the omission of funding for the nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile from the fiscal 2027 budget request, warning the absence of appropriated funding could jeopardize the Navy’s ability to meet a congressionally mandated deadline. Speaking to Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao on Tuesday during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Fischer […]

The House Appropriations Committee passed 34-25 its version of a bill on Wednesday that would give $27 billion to the Department of Energy’s semi-autonomous National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) for fiscal 2027. That number is $1.67 billion more than was enacted for the agency in charge of maintaining the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile in fiscal […]

The proposed fiscal 2027 Energy and Water Development appropriations bill drew criticism from top Democratic appropriators over a $282 million reduction to the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation account. During debate at Wednesday’s full Appropriations committee markup, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, argued the proposed 12% […]

While the House Appropriations Committee proposes to spend less in fiscal 2027 for the Department of Energy’s Hanford Site than in fiscal 2026, or what was requested by the White House, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.)  said there is still enough to meet cleanup milestones. During a committee markup, Newhouse, the longtime incumbent who represents Washington’s […]

The House Appropriations Committee passed 34-25 its version of a bill on Wednesday that would give $27 billion to the Department of Energy’s semi-autonomous National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) for fiscal 2027. That number is $1.67 billion more than was enacted for the agency in charge of maintaining the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile in fiscal […]

While the House Appropriations Committee proposes to spend less in fiscal 2027 for the Department of Energy’s Hanford Site than in fiscal 2026, or what was requested by the White House, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.)  said there is still enough to meet cleanup milestones. During a committee markup, Newhouse, the longtime incumbent who represents Washington’s […]

Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) the House of Representatives incumbent whose district includes the Department of Energy’s Paducah Site, easily won a Republican primary Tuesday night in Kentucky. Comer, a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, won 88% of the vote in the GOP primary for Kentucky’s first congressional district, according to results […]

Republican incumbents easily won their party primaries Tuesday in Idaho, where the Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is based. Longtime House Appropriations Committee member and INL backer Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) carried more than 63% of the GOP primary vote in Congressional District 2, with the rest of the votes being split between […]

Staffing vacancies in key positions at the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management (EM) have grown more acute, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said in a report made public Tuesday. The office in charge of nuclear cleanup at Cold War and Manhattan Project sites “has become further understaffed since GAO reported on EM’s workforce […]

Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) criticized the omission of funding for the nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile from the fiscal 2027 budget request, warning the absence of appropriated funding could jeopardize the Navy’s ability to meet a congressionally mandated deadline. Speaking to Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao on Tuesday during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Fischer […]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) Doug Weaver was reconfirmed by the Senate Monday to serve a full five-year term as a commissioner that will expire in June 2031. Weaver was confirmed alongside nearly 50 of President Donald Trump’s other nominees in the en bloc package, Senate Resolution 690, spearheaded by the Republicans. The nominees’ confirmation […]

The House Appropriations Committee will markup its version of the fiscal 2027 energy and water development and related agencies bill, which would fund the agency in charge of maintaining the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile, on Wednesday, May 20. The House Appropriations Energy and Water Subcommittee on Friday passed by voice vote its version of the […]

Here are events related to nuclear matters that Exchange Monitor staff are tracking:  MAY: 20: Hearing: The Senate Environment & Public Works plans a hearing at 10 a.m. Eastern Time to consider nuclear energy legislation.  26-28:Conference: The Energy Technology & Environmental Business Association (ETEBA) hosts its Small Business Summit, The formal program starts Tuesday May […]

Sen. Bill Cassady (R-La.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and one of the few remaining Republicans in Congress who once voted to impeach President Donald Trump, has lost a GOP primary race in Louisiana. Rep. Julia Letlow (R-La.), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, and state Treasurer John Fleming […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a time of growing energy demand, investment in nuclear power can be important to the economic future of the United States, Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) said last week.  Gallego told the Nuclear Energy Institute’s Policy Forum May 12-13 that getting the right mix of nuclear energy in the domestic energy portfolio […]

The Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate and Nuclear Innovation and Safety will hold a hearing to discuss several draft nuclear-related legislation on May 20 in Room 406 at the Senate Dirksen Office Building in Washington, D.C. at 10 a.m. Eastern Time. \The subcommittee will look at the Build Nuclear with […]

After cloture was invoked Thursday for a slew of President Donald Trump nominees, including Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Doug Weaver, the Senate will debate and vote on the confirmation of the en bloc of nominations May 18. Weaver, who took over after former commissioner Annie Caputo resigned, was renominated by Trump on Jan. 29 to serve […]

The House Appropriations Energy and Water Subcommittee advanced its fiscal 2027 appropriations bill that would give $1.8 billion to Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy and $892.3 million to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).  The full House Appropriations Committee released the Energy and Water appropriations bill and bill summary on Thursday, and passed it […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Amid ongoing organizational changes at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), staffing concerns take precedence as the independent regulator works to license the next generation of nuclear reactors. Over the past year, NRC has faced many changes of personnel and organizational structure, some of which was ordered by Executive Order 14300. The agency […]

The House Appropriations Energy and Water Subcommittee passed by voice vote its version of a bill that would give $27 billion to the Department of Energy’s semi-autonomous National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) for fiscal 2027. That number is $1.67 billion more than was enacted for the agency in charge of maintaining the nation’s nuclear weapons […]

The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) has unveiled a new public website that should be easier to use.  “This update is part of a broader effort to improve transparency and accessibility for Congress, stakeholders, and the public—and to make it easier to quickly find our work, understand current issues, and navigate key materials across […]

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) pressed Energy Secretary Chris Wright recently over the Department of Energy’s decision to redirect funding intended for the Savannah River Site to weapons production efforts at Los Alamos National Laboratory. During a Senate Appropriations Energy and Water Development subcommittee hearing in late April, Graham said $149 million appropriated through reconciliation for […]

The House Appropriations Energy and Water subcommittee passed by voice vote the fiscal 2027 funding bill that would give the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management $7.7 billion, according to a summary of the Energy & Water legislation.  That figure would represent less than the almost $8.2 billion proposed by the administration of President […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tim Walsh, the Department of Energy Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management, told a Senate panel Wednesday that his office is serious about solidifying tank waste at the DOE’s Hanford State in Washington state. Walsh appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee alongside Secretary of Energy Chris Wright as well as National Nuclear […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Amid ongoing organizational changes at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), staffing concerns take precedence as the independent regulator works to license the next generation of nuclear reactors. During a Wednesday Senate Environment and Public Works budget hearing, NRC Commissioner Bradley Crowell told the Senate that over the past 16 months, the agency […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tim Walsh, the Department of Energy Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management, told a Senate panel Wednesday that his office is serious about solidifying tank waste at the DOE’s Hanford State in Washington state. Walsh appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee alongside Secretary of Energy Chris Wright as well as National Nuclear […]

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) pressed Energy Secretary Chris Wright recently over the Department of Energy’s decision to redirect funding intended for the Savannah River Site to weapons production efforts at Los Alamos National Laboratory. During a Senate Appropriations Energy and Water Development subcommittee hearing in late April, Graham said $149 million appropriated through reconciliation for […]

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a fiscal 2027 budget hearing to discuss the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s request Wednesday morning. The hearing will be held in Room 406 in the Senate Dirksen Office Building at 10 a.m. Eastern time. All five of the NRC commissioners will be testifying before the full Senate […]

The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) has unveiled a new public website that should be easier to use.  “This update is part of a broader effort to improve transparency and accessibility for Congress, stakeholders, and the public—and to make it easier to quickly find our work, understand current issues, and navigate key materials across […]

Here are events related to nuclear matters that Exchange Monitor staff are tracking:  MAY: 12-13: Conference: The Nuclear Energy Institute will host a two-day conference on shaping the future of nuclear energy policy held at Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert Street, NW, Washington, DC  20008. 13: Hearing: Senate Armed Services will receive appropriations testimony from […]