Jill Hruby says ‘momentum’ most important for NNSA next admin

WASHINGTON — Jill Hruby, outgoing administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration, told the next administration ‘don’t lose the momentum’ in a tell-all on the state of the nuclear enterprise Thursday.

“I think, you know, there’s other people saying this as well,” Hruby told the Exchange Monitor after her comments at Washington think tank the Hudson Institute. “As opposed to stopping things and taking a lot of time to think about what the future direction is: move.” 

Hruby added, “they’ll need to reexamine and think about things, but don’t lose the momentum. That’s my message.”

Throughout her talk, Hruby mentioned that she had spoken to members of President-elect Donald Trump’s (R) transition team but told the Monitor she had not spoken with Brandon Williams, whom Trump nominated to replace Hruby.

However, Hruby also said she “penned a short letter a week or two ago” that started talks with the incoming administration on high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU) and advised the Trump team to keep nonproliferation guardrails in place for HALEU.

“We need nuclear energy so we got to figure it out,” Hruby said. 

Hruby also discussed a planned National Academies study about HALEU, which she alluded to in her statement addressing criticisms for HALEU.

As for her own next steps after leading the NNSA, Hruby told the Monitor that while she had not committed to anything, “I’m sure I’ll be back doing something.”

“I’ve got to move, I’m going to sleep, I’m going to catch up with my husband, and then probably be bored,” Hruby said. “I’m going to just take a little time, a little breather first.”