On the heels of a controversial firing of a Nuclear Regulatory Commission member, President Donald Trump has renominated NRC Chairman David Wright to serve another term.
The Wright nomination was sent to the Senate and referred to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Monday. Wright’s hearing is scheduled for June 25 at 10 a.m. in room 562 at the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
Wright’s current term is due to end on June 30. he Senate and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. If confirmed, Wright will serve a new five year term that will conclude on June 30, 2030.
A former chair of the South Carolina Public Service Commission, Wright was previously nominated by Trump in May 2018 and was appointed at the outset of Trump’s second term to serve as the chair of the NRC in January.
The renomination of Wright comes days after the termination of his fellow commissioner Christopher Hanson, which occurred on June 13. The news broke of Trump firing Hanson on Monday. Many Democrats and individuals in the nuclear sector denounced Trump’s firing of Hanson.
An appointee of Trump, Hanson was confirmed by the Senate first in 2020 and again in 2024 after being reappointed by President Joe Biden. His term would not have expired until 2029.
With Wright’s nomination pending and Hanson’s firing, the only commissioners at the NRC are Annie Caputo, Bradley Crowell and Matthew Marzano. If Wright is not confirmed by June 30, then NRC will continue to operate with only three commissioners until he is confirmed, according to a NRC spokesperson.
The renomination of Wright comes at a time of much change at NRC. Congress passed the Advance Act in 2024 to streamline licensing and approval of nuclear projects. Then this year President Trump unveiled executive orders on nuclear issues, including revamping the NRC and critics say making it less independent. NRC is also undergoing many retirements and staff changes.
