ECA Update 09/30: NCW RECAP, A LOOMING GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN; and more

Published: Tue, 09/30/25

Updated: Tue, 09/30/25

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS & WHAT TO KNOW THIS WEEK

Congress is still at an impasse over passage of a continuing resolution (CR) extending funding until November 21. After a highly anticipated meeting between President Trump and congressional leaders was unable to find consensus, the likelihood of a government shutdown greatly increased. The CR deadline approaches at midnight tonight, and the White House is warning agencies of the potential for large scale reductions in force if the CR fails to pass.
The 11th annual National Cleanup Workshop was hosted last week where DOE-EM Acting Assistant Secretary Joel Bradburne and DOE-NE Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Reactors Dr. Rian Bahran gave the keynote addresses - see the key takeaways below.
In a new paper "Changes are Coming: Building Momentum for EM's Scope and Progress", ECA details the priorities and issues for DOE leadership as it reviews and analyzes EM issues amidst funding cuts for the program.
ECA's latest report "From the Atomic Age to New Nuclear" highlights new nuclear projects across the country - see more below.
Visit ECA on LinkedIn for regular updates.

CR EXPIRES TODAY, HOW WOULD A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IMPACT DOE PROGRAMS?

Congress is still at an impasse over passage of a continuing resolution (CR) extending funding until November 21. After a highly anticipated meeting between President Trump and congressional leaders was unable to find consensus, the likelihood of a government shutdown greatly increased. The CR deadline approaches at midnight tonight, and the White House is warning agencies of the potential for large scale reductions in force if the CR fails to pass.

Without passage of a CR, the federal government will experience a shut down. During a federal government shutdown, federal agencies, the judiciary, and Congress can only spend money on essential services, such as services regarding the safety of human life or protection of property and those activities with funds that carry over from the previous fiscal year (like DOD and certain other defense funds). This impacts most federal employees and agencies.

Any shutdown of the government for even a short amount of time could negatively impact DOE’s (including EM, NNSA, Office Nuclear Energy, Office of Science, and Legacy Management) vital work and research throughout the complex and at national laboratories. Shutdowns can have dire economic consequences for our communities, including the loss of businesses, jobs, and revenues needed to provide local services.

If the government shutdown only lasts 1-5 days, then DOE and their contractors' operations (for some programs) would likely not be disrupted. DOE has historically had sufficient previously appropriated funds to support operations during a short-term lapse in appropriations.

ECA will continue to provide updates on appropriations as they develop. To learn more visit the Federal Budget Tracker on our website.

11th ANNUAL NATIONAL CLEANUP WORKSHOP RECAP!

Last week, the National Cleanup Workshop was hosted in Arlington, Virginia where DOE leaders, local government officials, and industry leaders from across the country gathered to discuss the DOE's cleanup priorities, workforce issues, and more.

Beginning on Tuesday, the ECA Board met ahead of the workshop to vote in the new ECA Executive Board for the 2026-2027 term. The incoming board (listed below) will serve a two-year term beginning on January 1, 2026.

ECA Chair – Councilmember Chuck Hope (Oak Ridge, TN)

ECA Vice-Chair – Mayor Pro Tem Jason “JJ” Chavez (Carlsbad, NM)

ECA Secretary – Chairman & Commissioner Jerome Delvin (Benton County, WA)

ECA Treasurer – Councilor Randall Ryti (Los Alamos County, NM)

ECA Member-At-Large – Mayor Pro Tem Sandra Wilson (Paducah, KY)

We would like to congratulate the incoming board members, and we look forward to their leadership and guidance. Finally, a thank you to the current Board of Directors (listed below) for your leadership as we continue to move forward ECA members’ goals and priorities the past two years!

ECA Chair – Mayor Brent Gerry (West Richland, WA)

ECA Vice-Chair – Mayor Rebecca Casper (Idaho Falls, ID)

ECA Secretary – Councilmember Chuck Hope (Oak Ridge, TN)

ECA Treasurer – Councilor Randall Ryti (Los Alamos County, NM)

ECA Member-At-Large – Mayor Pro Tem Jason “JJ” Chavez (Carlsbad, NM)

On Wednesday, Department of Energy office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM) Acting Assistant Secretary Joel Bradburne gave the keynote address highlighting DOE Secretary Chris White’s ambitious vision for the new nuclear future, and the critical need of EM to accelerate reuse to fuel new nuclear development. However, he noted that the success of these ambitious projects cannot happen without community involvement stating, “You cannot separate site and community - nothing is confined to the DOE space.”

Thursday, Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Reactors Dr. Rian Bahran was the featured keynote speaker, where he expressed his excitement at the progress the Department has made stating, “The pace we are moving at is faster than anything I’ve ever seen, it is incredibly exciting…The Secretary has directed that we will be testing at least three reactors by next year – and we are on track to meet that goal.”

Here are the Major Takeaways from the workshop:

Continuously engaging with communities to build transparent and trusted relationships is imperative to the success of EM projects.
Focusing on the cleanup and disposal of legacy waste is imperative right now, but concurrently ensuring no new legacies are created in the process.
Continuously engaging with communities to build transparent and trusted relationships is imperative to the success of EM projects.

Thank you to Acting Assistant Secretary Joel Bradburne and to Deputy Assistant Secretary Rian Bahran for taking the time to speak at the National Cleanup Workshop! Finally, ECA wants to thank all attendees for your energy, partnership, and collaboration during the 2025 National Cleanup Workshop.

Make sure to save the date for next year's National Cleanup Workshop hosted in Arlington, VA from September 14-16, 2026!

CHANGES ARE COMING TO CLEANUP: HOW SHOULD EM CONTINUE TO BUILD MOMENTUM

The DOE Office of Environmental Management (EM) program is amid some of the largest challenges in many years, including a likely appropriations cut. This is an opportunity for DOE leadership and the EM program to look at improvements and efficiencies to address long-standing needs and take advantage of the real opportunities with DOE assets.

In a new paper "Changes are Coming: Building Momentum for EM's Scope and Progress", the Energy Communities Alliance (ECA), which represents local governments and communities near DOE and other nuclear sites, details the priorities and issues for DOE leadership as it reviews and analyzes EM issues. The paper highlights how the EM budget may not continue to grow each year and what steps can be taken to make the EM program more efficient. In no particular order, EM should consider the following to be program priorities:

Define the EM Mission Scope
Continue to Focus on Reusing DOE Assets
Look for new ways to improve EM Operations

You can read the full paper online as a part of our ECA Bulletin, alongside stories on the current status of Energy and Water Appropriations, ECA's collaboration based siting community grants, nuclear communities abroad, and more! The Bulletin will be available in print later this week at the 11th Annual National Cleanup Workshop, in Arlington, VA, where Joel Bradburne, Acting Assistant Secretary for EM will be providing a keynote address. ECA looks forward to discussing "Changes are Coming" alongside other topics salient to the EM Cleanup mission. To learn more about the Workshop, keep reading below! For more information on the Cleanup Workshop, keep reading below!

COMMUNITIES ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS IN AN UPDATED ECA REPORT: FROM THE ATOMIC AGE TO NEW NUCLEAR

Communities across the country that were once home to government nuclear sites and/or former commercial energy plants are ready to help the United States today unleash the next wave of nuclear technologies, according to a report from the Energy Communities Alliance (ECA). In its paper, “From the Atomic Age to New Nuclear,” ECA captures a snapshot of the nuclear projects underway in the United States and lays out the attributes that make energy communities optimal for this new era of American nuclear leadership. Read the paper here.

WHAT YOU'VE MISSED:

Deep Isolation licenses its disposal technology to fed contractor Navarro

Nuclear waste disposal technology company Deep Isolation Nuclear announced it has signed a technology licensing agreement with government contractor Navarro Research and Engineering, giving Navarro access to Deep Isolation’s portfolio of intellectual property for use in nuclear and hazardous waste management applications across the states of Tennessee and Idaho.

Read the full story

Study confirms feasibility of Xe-100 SMR for Alberta

The study by X-energy Canada has confirmed the feasibility and benefits of repurposing an existing thermal generation site in Alberta with X-energy's small modular reactors, and establishes a foundation for further planning and regulatory engagement to support future deployment.

Read the full story

As data centers gobble up electricity, Big Tech goes all-in on nuclear power

After decades of being on the back burner of energy policy, investments in nuclear power are on the rise, spurred on by electricity demands from big tech and changing federal policy.

Read the full story

PODCASTS ON NUCLEAR:

Gone Fission Podcast - TVA SMR at Clinch River

September 22, 2025 | S5 E5

The 2025 Nuclear Opportunities Workshop sponsored by the East Tennessee Economic Council in Knoxville continues to yield newsworthy stories for the Gone Fission podcast. This week, host Michael Butler talks with Tennessee Valley Authority Vice President Greg Borschieg about TVA's plans to build a small modular reactor on the Clinch River site in Oak Ridge. In May, TVA became the first American utility to apply for a construction permit to build an SMR. Learn more about this groundbreaking project in this week's episode of the Gone Fission podcast.

https://gonefissionpodcast.com/

EFCOG Exchange Podcast

September 17, 2025 | S1 E1

In this debut episode, EFCOG Chair and Honeywell Federal Solutions VP/GM David “DJ” Johnson sits down with Mike Nartker, VP of Communications at Longenecker & Associates, to explore EFCOG’s history, mission, and the impactful work happening across the DOE complex. New to EFCOG? This episode offers an engaging introduction to the organization and its current priorities. Already familiar? You’ll hear fresh insights from DJ and Mike on opportunities to strengthen collaboration with DOE—highlighting how digital tools and AI can help advance the Department’s evolving mission. Stay tuned for future episodes of the EFCOG Exchange Podcast, where we’ll continue spotlighting innovation, collaboration, and success across the DOE enterprise.

https://efcog.buzzsprout.com/2531686