I was pleased to see The Durango Herald address Chris Wright’s appointment as the new head of the U.S. Department of Energy (“Wait and see on Trump’s DOE pick,” Dec. 8). However, I was struck by a glaring omission in your analysis.
Despite its name, the Department of Energy has relatively little to do with energy production or policy. Nearly half of its budget is allocated to the National Nuclear Security Administration, which is responsible for managing the U.S. nuclear weapons program.
We are on the verge of spending $1.7 trillion over the next 30 years to modernize America’s nuclear arsenal. This generation-defining investment demands greater public awareness and scrutiny, yet many Americans remain unaware of its scale and implications.
Your editorial missed a crucial opportunity to spark a much-needed conversation about our nation’s priorities and the role of our doomsday weapons in shaping our future.
Eben Harrell
Durango
