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NENSC Flash | NENSC Letter to Congress Supporting EXIM Reauthorization
On July 17, 2026, NENSC Executive Director Jay A. Tilden sent letters to the leadership of the House Committee on Financial Services and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs urging Congress to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) and to strengthen the Bank's ability to support strategically important American exports — particularly in the global nuclear energy market.
The letters make the case that EXIM is not simply an instrument of commercial policy, but an essential national security institution. Countries around the world are making decisions today about nuclear power plants they will operate for the next 60 to 100 years. Those projects create decades-long partnerships spanning technology, fuel supply, workforce development, regulatory cooperation, cybersecurity, physical security, and nonproliferation — and the countries that supply them gain enduring strategic influence.
Russia and China treat nuclear exports and export financing as instruments of national power, offering state-backed financing, extended repayment terms, and coordinated packages of technology, fuel, construction, and diplomatic support. American companies compete on commercial terms and cannot independently match financing backed by the resources of foreign governments. A strong and fully operational EXIM closes that gap, allowing the United States to stand behind American technology and American workers while offering partner countries a credible alternative.
Because Congress reauthorizes EXIM only periodically, NENSC urged lawmakers to use this rare opportunity to align the Bank's authorities with the strategic competition the United States now faces. The letters recommend three provisions:
Protect EXIM against the loss of a Board quorum. Past quorum lapses have prevented the Bank from approving major transactions regardless of their commercial merit or strategic importance. Foreign competitors do not suspend their financing offers because of vacancies in their governments' appointment processes.
Reform the statutory default rate cap. The current portfolio-wide framework creates a structural disincentive against large, long-duration infrastructure projects. EXIM should be able to evaluate strategically important nuclear transactions on their individual merits — borrower strength, financing structure, national-interest benefits, and the competitiveness of the U.S. offer.
Preserve the full range of EXIM authorities and the flexibility to compete. Nuclear projects vary substantially in size, structure, ownership, and schedule. Reforms should strengthen — not narrow — the Bank's capacity to support major strategic exports.
Copies of the letters were shared with the full membership of both committees and with the NENSC Expert Council.
Downloads
Download the letter to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs (PDF)
Download the letter to the House Committee on Financial Services (PDF)
NENSC News | NENSC Announces New Leadership
May 1, 2026
The Nuclear Energy and National Security Coalition is proud to announce the appointment of Jay Tilden as Executive Director and Chris Ploch as Deputy Director for NENSC. Together, they bring decades of senior government experience in nuclear security, energy policy, and national security — and a shared commitment to advancing NENSC's mission at this pivotal moment for American nuclear leadership.
Jay Tilden, Executive Director, brings an unparalleled background at the intersection of nuclear security and intelligence. Jay served as Director of the DOE Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence — the Department's senior intelligence and counterintelligence officer — and as Deputy Under Secretary for Counterterrorism and Counterproliferation at NNSA, where he oversaw a $430 million budget and enterprise-wide workforce spanning nuclear forensics, counterterrorism, and nuclear incident response. He also directed the Office of Nuclear Threat Science at NNSA, leading research into non-traditional nuclear device approaches and counterproliferation R&D. Jay served 22 years in the U.S. Army as a counterintelligence technician and is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School Senior Executive Fellows program and the National Defense University Joint & Combined Studies program.
Chris Ploch, Deputy Director, joins NENSC with a strong record of nuclear policy execution in government and on Capitol Hill. Chris served as a Trump Administration political appointee — Senior Advisor to both the DOE Office of Policy and DOE Office of Nuclear Energy — where he coordinated implementation of four nuclear energy executive orders and worked closely with DOE leadership, the national laboratories, federal agencies, and White House offices on high-impact nuclear policy. He previously served as Legislative Counsel in the U.S. House of Representatives, including on the House Committee on Appropriations, and organized House Advanced Nuclear Caucus briefings. Chris serves on the Board of Advisors of the United Coalition for Advanced Nuclear (UCAN) Power and holds a J.D. from the University of Florida.
Jay and Chris will serve as the day-to-day leadership of NENSC, working under the strategic direction of the Co-Chairs and in service of the Expert Council and Board. Stakeholders interested in engaging with NENSC's new leadership team are encouraged to reach out directly to information@nensc.org.
NENSC Flash | Expert Insight: NRC Independence, Modernization, and the Moment Ahead
By William C. Ostendorff and Admiral Richard W. Mies (Ret.)
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is navigating a period of significant change. There is no question that a great deal is happening. But this is a moment of modernization – not alarm.
NENSC News | February 2026
LEAD STORY: NENSC Cohosts Virtual Discussion on KSA 123 Agreement. NENSC cohosted a virtual panel with the Center for the National Interest on the anticipated U.S.–Saudi “123 agreement” for civil nuclear cooperation. The bipartisan discussion featured NENSC Co-Chair and former Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman, NENSC Expert Council member and former Assistant Secretary of State Stephen Rademaker, and nonproliferation expert Robert Einhorn.
NENSC News | January 2026
LEAD STORY: As NENSC begins its efforts in 2026, we have exciting programming in the works. See more in this edition of NENSC News.
NENSC News | December 2025
LEAD STORY: NENSC is pleased to provide its 2025 Year in Review, which provides a snapshot of the
organization’s activities of the course of this year. We thank you for your continued support and
commitment to a strong national nuclear energy enterprise to the continued national security of
the United States.
NENSC | 2025 Year in Review
The Nuclear Energy and National Security Coalition is pleased to provide its overview of the organization’s activities during 2025.
NENSC News | October/November 2025
In NENSC’s latest “Atomically Speaking” podcast, Co-Chair Dan Poneman convenes a thoughtful conversation with experts regarding ongoing negotiations between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on a “123 agreement,” a civil nuclear cooperation agreement that provides a framework for peaceful nuclear energy cooperation.
NENSC News | September 2025
In our latest edition of NENSC News, the Nuclear Energy and National Security Coalition brings you the latest on U.S. Legislative and Executive Branch developments, industry news, events you don’t want to miss, and policies we are watching.
NENSC News | August 2025
LEAD STORY: NENSC Launches “Atomically Speaking” Podcast to Advance Dialogue on Nuclear Energy’s Role in U.S. Security
NENSC is proud to announce the launch of Atomically Speaking, a new and innovative podcast dedicated to exploring the intersection of nuclear energy and U.S. national security. Atomically Speaking is designed as a unique space for some of the nation’s foremost security experts, thought leaders, and policymakers to come together and engage in insightful, solution-oriented dialogue on the vital importance of maintaining a robust national nuclear energy enterprise. The inaugural episode featured a compelling conversation between NENSC Co-Chair Dan Poneman and Dr. Jeff Waksman, the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy, and Environment.