The U.S. Senate confirmed David Wright’s nomination to serve a new five-year term with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission after a 50 – 39 vote Monday night.
Nearly all Republican senators voted in support of Wright’s confirmation, Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) did not vote. All 39 votes against Wright’s confirmation came from Democrats and Independent senator Angus King (I-Maine).
The confirmation came later after a key procedural vote that concluded after 6 p.m. Eastern Time with an unofficial tally of 51-to-45, the Senate invoked cloture, or limited debate on the Wright nomination.
President Donald Trump renominated Wright for commissioner on June 16. Trump first nominated Wright to serve on the NRC in 2018.
Wright’s confirmation comes a day before Commissioner Annie Caputo announced her resignation at the NRC and two days before Trump nominated Ho Nieh, former NRC staffer, to serve as a commissioner for the agency. Then commissioner and former NRC chair Christopher Hanson was terminated by Trump on June 13.
In debate leading up to the vote, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) said he planned to vote against Wright, not because Wright is a bad nominee, but to “send a signal” to the Trump administration that the independence of NRC must be preserved. The Democrat said he was concerned about the Department of Energy encroaching on NRC turf as well as the role of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which Whitehouse pronounced “dog-gee” in revamping NRC.
As the top democrat reaffirmed his vote against Wright’s confirmation, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (W.V.) said Wright meets the mark to lead the NRC.
“The NRC protects public health and safety, and advances the nation’s common defense and security by enabling the safe and secure use and deployment of civilian nuclear energy technologies and radioactive materials through efficient and reliable licensing, oversight, and regulation for the benefit of society and the environment,” Capito said in her floor remarks.
“David Wright will help make this mission a reality and I encourage my colleagues to join me in voting for his reconfirmation to the NRC.”
In his prior Senate testimony, Wright has insisted that safety of nuclear plants will remain top priority at NRC. Wright advanced through the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works in a 10-9 vote.
Before his most recent term ended June 30, Wright was serving as NRC chairman. Wright is also a former member of the South Carolina Public Service Commission.