Top GOP hawks warn Biden against nuclear cuts
POLITICO | 1/13/2022
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The top Republicans on the Senate and House Armed Services committees are warning the Biden administration not to cut any newly approved nuclear weapons as it completes an internal review.
In a joint statement, Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) said it would be “profoundly concerning” to scale back any aspects of the nuclear modernization effort, especially in light of Russian and Chinese developments.
Background: The two Armed Services leaders were responding to a new report from POLITICO that the Biden administration is considering cutting a trio of programs that were added or revived by the Trump administration, including a nuclear-armed
cruise missile now in the early stages of development.
Their public warning, which comes weeks before the administration’s Nuclear Posture Review is supposed to wrap up, underscores how politically challenging it will be for President Joe Biden to make major reforms to U.S. nuclear strategy or upend long-term plans that were mostly codified in the Obama administration to upgrade
land-based nuclear missiles, submarines and bombers.
“Reports that the Biden administration is considering abandoning long-overdue and much-needed improvements to our nation’s nuclear deterrent – when China is massively expanding its nuclear arsenal, North Korea is flagrantly violating UN sanctions on its missile program, and Russia is poised to launch the largest invasion in Europe since World War II – are profoundly concerning, and if true, would only invite further aggression,” the lawmakers said.
Biden, who has said he believes the United States maintains more nuclear arms than needed, has been under pressure from arms control groups and some leading Democrats in Congress to follow through on his pledge when he became president to “take steps to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in our
national security strategy.”
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OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT
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JANUARY 15, 2022
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary for Science and Energy and Office of Policy (OP) request information on energy sector supply chains. This request for information (RFI) seeks input from all stakeholders involved directly and indirectly in the supply chains of energy, energy systems and technologies, and energy efficiency technologies from raw materials, processed materials, subcomponents, final products, to end-of-life material recovery and
recycling—including but not limited to U.S. industry, researchers, academia, local governments, and civil society. This stakeholder input will inform the Department's efforts in building an energy sector industrial base that is diverse, resilient, and competitive while meeting economic, national security, and climate objectives.
MARCH 1 & 2, 2022
The U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board (Board) will hold a virtual public meeting on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, and Wednesday, March 2, 2022, to review information on the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) activities related to spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and high-level radioactive waste (HLW). Specifically, the meeting will cover research and development (R&D) on SNF and
HLW storage, transportation, non-site-specific disposal, DOE’s integrated waste management system, and its consent-based siting process to identify federal interim storage facilities.
Details for joining and viewing the meeting will be available on the Board’s website (www.nwtrb.gov) approximately one week before the meeting. The meeting will begin on both days at 12:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time (EST) and is scheduled to adjourn at approximately 5:00 p.m. EST.
The meeting will be open to the public and there will be opportunities for public comments.
MARCH 4, 2022
The Department of Energy (DOE) has released a Request for Information (RFI) on how to site Federal facilities for the temporary, consolidated storage of spent nuclear fuel using a consent-based approach.
Responses to the RFI will inform development of a consent-based siting process, overall strategy for an integrated waste management system, and possibly a funding opportunity. DOE especially welcomes insight from people, communities, and groups that have historically not been well-represented in these discussions.
Responses must be received by March 4, 2022 by 5:00pm ET and may be submitted electronically to consentbasedsiting@hq.doe.gov, including “RFI: Consent-Based Siting and Federal Interim Storage” in the subject line of the email
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DOE kicks off recruitment to support implementation of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Department of Energy | 1/13/2022
On January 13, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the launch of its Clean Energy Corps, which is made up of staff from more than a dozen offices across DOE - current staff and new hires - who will work together to
research, develop, demonstrate, and deploy solutions to climate change. DOE also announced that the Clean Energy Corps is ready to recruit an additional 1,000 employees using a special hiring authority included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help implement the Law’s historic infusion of $62 billion in funding and accelerate the nation’s drive to a clean energy future.
The Clean Energy Corps’ new hiring portal will help streamline the application process for the industry veterans, experienced technical experts, and the next generation of clean energy leaders it seeks to attract.
This critical step marks the largest staff expansion at DOE since its establishment in 1977 and advances President Biden’s goals to create good paying jobs, spur economic growth and reach net-zero carbon emissions by
2050.
Watch Secretary Granholm's message for Clean Energy Corps applicants here.
“This is an open call for all Americans who are passionate about taking a proactive role in tackling the climate crisis and want to join the team that is best positioned to lead this transformative work,” said U.S. Secretary
of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Solving the world’s greatest challenge will require the inclusion of all voices, perspectives and experiences – and we need people like you to ensure that DOE fulfills on our commitment to accelerating the clean energy transition to reduce emissions and save our planet.”
The Department will assemble the Clean Energy Corps to mirror the diversity within America and ensure the inclusion of workers who have lived in communities impacted by climate change. DOE is seeking candidates with interest in leading the clean energy transition through the following industries:
- Program and Portfolio Management
- Project Management
- Engineering
- Physical Science
- Grants/Contract Management
- Legal
- Information Technology/Cybersecurity
- Safety and Occupational Health
- Business Administration
- Finance/Accounting
- Human Resources
- Public Policy
- Communications
- Legislative Affairs
Anyone interested in joining the Department of Energy’s Clean Energy Corps can submit their resume, skills, and areas of interest at energy.gov/cleanenergycorps.
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Read about DOE's High Level Waste Interpretation
Have questions about DOE’s recent high-level waste (HLW) interpretation? Download ECA’s Key Points and FAQs on the issue to better understand what ECA believes are the potential benefits of implementation.
Interested in learning more? Read the ECA report “Making Informed Decisions on DOE's Proposed High Level Waste Definition” at www.energyca.org/publications
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Stay Current on Activities in the DOE World
Read the latest edition of the ECA Bulletin, a regular newsletter providing a detailed brief of ECA activities, legislative news, and major events from across the DOE complex. Have suggestions for future editions? Email bulletin@energyca.org.
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Learn More about Cleanup Sites with ECA's DOE Site Profiles
ECA's new site profiles detail DOE's 13 active Environmental Management cleanup sites and national laboratories, highlighting their history, missions, and priorities. The profiles are a key source for media, stakeholders, and the public to learn more about DOE site activities, contractors, advisory boards, and their surrounding local governments.
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