Committee presses nominee on Hanford cleanup, NNSA funding and nuclear fuel security; Wright backs U.S. production and cleanup commitments

Several senators used Chris Wright's confirmation hearing to probe DOE responsibilities tied to nuclear weapons stewardship, cleanup of Cold War waste and the nuclear fuel supply chain.

Senator Maria Cantwell pressed Wright to commit to the Tri‑Party Agreement obligations at Hanford and to advocate for budgets that meet cleanup schedules. Wright called Hanford cleanup "critical" and said he is "firmly committed to continuing our obligations" to finish the job and clean up legacy waste.

Senators Tom Cotton, John Barrasso and others emphasized the National Nuclear Security Administration's central role; Wright agreed that the NNSA and the national labs are the "ultimate guarantor of our sovereignty" and said he would press to rebuild U.S. enrichment and plutonium‑pit capacity.

On uranium imports and geopolitical supply chains, Senator John Barrasso asked whether waivers allowing imports from Russia or China should be narrow; Wright said such waivers should be "very limited" and that U.S. dependence on foreign enriched uranium is a "sad state of affairs" that must be addressed without forcing premature shutdowns of operating reactors.

Senator Catherine Cortez Masto asked about Yucca Mountain and long‑term nuclear waste disposal; Wright said local buy‑in is essential and that he would work with senators to find acceptable long‑term disposal solutions.

Why it matters: DOE’s roles in nuclear cleanup, stockpile stewardship and fuel supply are central to national security and have long‑term budgetary and technical implications. Committee members pressed for concrete commitments on funding, supply chains and cleanup schedules.

Ending: Wright pledged to be a "faithful partner" to Congress on advanced reactor demonstrations and to ensure the NNSA receives resources to meet security obligations.