Congress must act to keep the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) from losing its quorum on October 18. We need YOUR help to get them to take action in the pending Continuing Resolution to keep the government running!
The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board is an independent agency within the executive branch of the Federal Government. (https://www.dnfsb.gov/) 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) defense nuclear facilities, including with respect to the health and safety of employees and contractors and the nearby communities.
Congress established the Board in 1988 in response to longtime, ongoing concerns about the level of health and safety protection that DOE was providing the public and workers at defense nuclear facilities, including concerns from Alliance for Nuclear Accountability (ANA) groups. We would not know about the many DOE nuclear safety problems without the Safety Board.
There are five positions on the Board for experts in the field of nuclear safety with demonstrated competence and knowledge relevant to its independent investigative and oversight functions. However, since early 2025, the Board has been reduced to just two members, Mr. Thomas A. Summers (a Republican nominee whose term ends on October 18, 2025), and Dr. Patricia L. Lee. The Board currently has a temporary one-year statutory quorum. Since there is no indication that Mr. Summers might be allowed to extend his term, the Board may be down to one person after October, and will then lack a quorum. Without its quorum, the DNFSB can not carry out its mission effectively.
Congress must take action to protect nuclear safety by preserving DNFSB’s quorum!
Here’s how you can help:
Congress is in the process of negotiating a new Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government for FY 2026. The CR should contain a provision to enable the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board to continue in its current capacity. The provision is a temporary measure only until the Administration and Senate can nominate and confirm additional Board Members. Take action now to urge Chuck Shumer (Senate Minority Leader) and other Senators to protect the DNFSB!
Contact Senator Martin Heinrich through his official website, his Washington, D.C. office, or any of his New Mexico State offices:
- “Contact” page on his official website: heinrich.senate.gov/contact/write-martin
- Washington, D.C. office:
- Address: 709 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
- Phone: (202) 224-5521
- Santa Fe Office:
- 123 E Marcy St, Suite 103, Santa Fe, NM 87501
- Phone: (505) 988-6647
- Albuquerque Office:
- 400 Gold Avenue SW, Ste. 1080, Albuquerque, NM 87102
- (505) 346-6601
Contact Senator Ben Ray Luján through his official website, his Washington, D.C. office, or any of his New Mexico State offices:
- “Contact” page on his official website:www.lujan.senate.gov/contact/
- Washington, D.C. office:
- Address: 498 Russell Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510
- Phone: (202) 224-6621
- Santa Fe Office:
- 120 S. Federal Place, Suite 302, Santa Fe, NM 87501
- Phone: (505) 230-7040
- Albuquerque Office:
- 500 Marquette Ave NW, Suite 1460, Albuquerque, NM 87102
- (505) 337-7023
It is especially important that New York constituents contact Senate Minority Leader Schumer on this matter!
Contact Senator Chuck Schumer through his official website, his Washington, D.C. office, or any of his New York State offices:
- “Contact” page on his official website: schumer.senate.gov/contact/email-chuck
- Washington, D.C. office:
- Address: 322 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510
- Phone: (202) 224-6542
- New York City Office:
- 780 Third Avenue, Suite 2301, New York, NY 10017
- Phone: (212) 486-4430
📞 Call / Email Script: Protect the DNFSB in the Continuing Resolution
Subject line (for emails): Protect the DNFSB – Urgent Action Needed
Hello, my name is [NAME], and I am a constituent from [CITY, STATE]. I’m calling to urge Senator [Heinrich / Luján / Schumer] to ensure that the upcoming continuing resolution includes a provision to protect the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB).
The DNFSB is an independent federal agency that provides essential oversight of nuclear safety at Department of Energy (DOE) defense sites. Without a quorum, the Board cannot issue formal recommendations, conduct hearings, or hold DOE accountable for safety at these facilities including Los Alamos Lab, Savannah River Site, and many more across the country.
Right now, the Board is down to just two members. One member’s term, Mr. Summers, ends on October 18, 2025. If no new members are confirmed before then, the Board will be reduced to just one member and lose the quorum it needs to function. This would be a dangerous failure of nuclear safety oversight at a time when DOE is rapidly expanding nuclear weapons production, especially in regards to the nationwide expansion of plutonium pit production. This is why it is urgent for Congress to act.
The upcoming Continuing Resolution (CR) needs to include a provision to:
- Preserve the DNFSB’s ability to function even if its membership drops.
- Allow the President additional time to nominate new Board members.
Please ensure that this critical provision is included in the CR to ensure the Board can continue its vital safety mission of maintaining oversight, transparency, and safety at DOE defense nuclear facilities.
Thank you for your time and attention to this urgent matter.
Quick Call:
“Hi, my name is [NAME], and I’m calling to ask Senator [X] to act to protect the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board. Congress must include a provision in the continuing resolution to keep the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) functioning and give the President more time to nominate new members. Without this, the Board will lose quorum on Oct. 18 and be unable to provide vital nuclear safety oversight.”
Background:
The Alliance for Nuclear Accountability (ANA) issued a letter about the urgent need for nominations to the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board.
