URGENT ACTION NEEDED to Help Protect the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board!

Nuclear Watch, Jay Coghlan, Executive Director, Scott Kovac, Research Director, Sophie Stroud, Digital Content Manager and Youth Specialist, 13 Oct 25

The government is still shut down (unfortunately). But it does mean there’s still time to ask Congress to get a provision in the pending Continuing Resolution to keep the government running that will help save the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB).

Background: The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board is an independent agency within the executive branch of the Federal Government. The DNFSB is chartered with the responsibility to provide recommendations and advice to the Secretary of Energy regarding public health and safety issues at Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear weapons facilities, including with the health and safety of employees, contractors, and nearby communities (for more see www.dnfsb.gov).

Congress established the Board in 1988 in response to increasing reports of nuclear safety risks impacting workers and the public. Since early this year, the Board has been reduced to just two Members out of five, with a temporary one-year statutory bridge to constitute a quorum that is drawing to a close. In addition, the current Acting Chairman’s term expires this October 18, ending the Board’s functioning quorum. Without it, the DNFSB cannot effectively carry out its critical nuclear safety oversight mission. The public would simply not know about the DOE’s chronic nuclear safety problems without the Board. This is critically important today given expanding production of nuclear weapons.

Specific request: There should be a provision in any Continuing Resolution for FY 2026 that would temporarily extend the authority of the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board by allowing the Acting Chair to serve until the end of January 2027. The overriding purpose is to enable the Safety Board to fully continue operations and provide more time for the President to nominate, and the Senate to confirm, new Safety Board Members.

Congress must take action to protect nuclear safety by preserving DNFSB’s quorum!

Contact Senator Martin Heinrich through his official website, his Washington, D.C. office, or any of his New Mexico State offices:…………………………………………………………

Contact Senator Ben Ray Luján through his official website, his Washington, D.C. office, or any of his New Mexico State offices:………………………………………………….

Contact Senator John Thune through his official website, his Washington, D.C. office, or any of his South Dakota State offices:…………………………………………….

Contact Senator Chuck Schumer through his official website, his Washington, D.C. office, or any of his New York State offices:……………………………………………. https://nukewatch.org/action-item/urgent-action-needed-to-help-protect-the-defense-nuclear-facilities-safety-board/