Senate EPW to vote on Wright’s NRC renomination

The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works is scheduled to vote Wednesday morning at 8:45 a.m. on the renomination of David Wright to be a commissioner on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Wright was renominated by President Donald Trump on June 16. He was previously appointed to serve on the NRC in May 2018, during Trump’s first term. From January to June, Wright was the chair of the NRC. 

On June 25, Wright testified before the Senate committee and told the committee that safety will still be the agency’s top priority while streamlining the advanced nuclear projects processes. 

Last week, Wright’s term with the NRC ended. As Wright is no longer on the Commission and is awaiting his reappointment, he has delegated his duties and responsibilities to Commissioner Annie Caputo and several senior level positions with the NRC.

According to a NRC delegation memo, the chair authorities were delegated to the commissioner who has served the longest on the commission. Caputo has served on the Commission since 2022, she also previously served as Commissioner from 2018 to 2021. 

The Senate committee will also consider the nomination of Usha-Maria Turner to be assistant administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.