The Nuclear Regulatory Commission could be down to four commissioners come Friday, with the Senate out of town and Commissioner Jeffrey Baran’s term was scheduled to expire.
Baran’s nomination remained on the Senate’s executive calendar this week, but lawmakers returned home Thursday for their annual July 4 recess and were not scheduled to conduct any business in Washington for two weeks, according to the calendar maintained by Democrats who control the chamber.
Baran, the longest tenured NRC commissioner, is a controversial figure among some Republicans and drew scathing criticism from conservative publications after the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in mid-June narrowly approved his renomination for a vote in the full Senate.
The five-member NRC may by law have no more than three commissioners who belong to the same political party. If Baran’s seat winds up vacant, the commission would have two Republicans and two Democrats.
Baran, another Democratic commissioner, has a reputation as a regulatory stickler who prioritizes safety and caution over expediency.
President Joe Biden (D) renominated Baran for another NRC term in April. Baran has served on the NRC since 2014. He holds a juris doctor from Harvard Law School and masters and bachelors degrees in political science from Ohio University. He worked on Capitol Hill prior to joining the commission.
