The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) officially announced Saturday Oct. 18 that Acting Chair Thomas Summers has ended his service with the agency following the expiration of his five-year term.
“Mr. Summers served the board with distinction, most recently as acting chairman, leading the agency during a period of significant transition and sustained operational excellence,” DNFSB said in the press release. “Under his leadership, the board advanced its oversight of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) defense nuclear facilities, strengthened collaboration with DOE leadership, and upheld the board’s mission to ensure adequate protection of public health and safety.”
As Exchange Monitor has reported, Summers’ departure leaves only one person on what was set up to be a five-member panel of safety experts to advise DOE. Patricia Lee, a former executive at the Savannah River National Laboratory in South Carolina, is currently the only board member. Her tenure expires Oct. 18, 2027.
Board members are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. To date President Donald Trump has not nominated any individuals to DNFSB since he retook the White House in January. In an interview with the Monitor last week, Summers said he understands a couple of people are being vetted.
Summers was nominated during the first Trump term while Lee was nominated during the Joe Biden administration. In both cases the time between first being contacted by the White House and eventually winning Senate confirmation, was roughly two years, Summers said during the interview.
With Summers exit, the board will “continue to operate below the quorum threshold” required to take certain formal actions under its enabling statute,” DNFSB said in the release.
“To ensure the continuity of operations, Mr. Summers has delegated limited authorities to designated senior officials, including the authority to issue reporting requirements to DOE,” DNFSB said.
“Despite this transition, the DNFSB remains fully committed to its vital national security mission,” DNFSB said. “The agency’s highly qualified technical staff will continue to perform independent safety oversight at DOE defense nuclear facilities across the nation.”