Secretary Wright Opening Remarks at House Science, Space & Tech. Committee Hearing - June 10, 2026

Why It Matters

The remarks signal a concentrated federal push to translate DOE-funded science into commercial and strategic advantages, accelerating deployment of next-generation energy and computing technologies that could reshape U.S. industrial competitiveness and national security. Large funding commitments and bipartisan-seeming milestones—like reactor criticality and a national fusion roadmap—aim to attract private investment and workforce development around these prioritized technologies.

Summary

Energy Secretary Wright outlined the Trump administration’s fiscal 2027 budget priorities, framing DOE efforts as a nationwide mobilization to secure U.S. leadership in AI, quantum, fusion and advanced energy technologies. He touted the Genesis mission and American Science Cloud — which drew a record 800 institutional applications — and said DOE has launched 26 national science and technology challenges across energy, materials, biotech and quantum. Wright highlighted a milestone in nuclear energy: the first new non-light-water reactor in over four decades reached criticality on June 4, and emphasized renewed investments in quantum centers and a competition to demonstrate a scientifically relevant quantum computer by 2028. He also announced major ARPA-E commitments to accelerate fusion, lithium extraction, grid modernization and AI-driven discovery.