Quick Hit:

A recent Biden-Harris administration hire at the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is drawing attention for promoting radical diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. Sneha Nair, a new special assistant, advocates for integrating “queer theory” into nuclear policy as essential for advancing national security and disarmament.

Key Details:

• Sneha Nair, appointed in February 2024 as special assistant at NNSA, has argued that advancing “queer theory” is critical for nuclear disarmament and national security.
• Nair believes diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) measures, including giving access to individuals with foreign connections, should be central to U.S. nuclear policy.
• Before her appointment, Nair worked for the Stimson Institute, which received significant funding from George Soros' Open Society Foundations and the Embassy of Qatar.

Diving Deeper:

According to Fox News, the Biden-Harris administration's recent appointment of Sneha Nair as special assistant at the National Nuclear Security Administration has brought attention to her controversial views on nuclear disarmament and the role of DEI in national security. Nair has consistently pushed for incorporating “queer theory” and DEI initiatives into nuclear policy as part of a broader agenda to challenge what she describes as entrenched systems of “White supremacy” in the nuclear field.

Nair argues that integrating DEI into nuclear security is critical for addressing insider threats at nuclear facilities. She claims that workplaces lacking diversity and inclusion are at greater risk of producing “disgruntled employees” who could become security threats. “DEI principles and advancement must be considered crucial assets for strengthening nuclear security implementation,” she stated in an article published in April 2023.

Nair’s views extend to advocating for expanding access to sensitive national security positions to individuals with foreign ties. She argues that current vetting processes are biased against applicants from certain racial and ethnic groups, hindering their participation in roles requiring security clearances. Nair further contends that predominantly White decision-makers in nuclear facilities may fail to recognize threats from radical White supremacist groups due to shared racial biases.

Nair’s advocacy for “queering nuclear weapons” involves applying queer theory—a framework traditionally used to analyze gender and sexual norms—to reshape the discourse around nuclear weapons. In a 2023 article, she wrote, “Queer theory helps to shift the perception of nuclear weapons as instruments for security by telling the hidden stories of displacement, illness, and trauma caused by their production and testing.” She argues that this perspective challenges mainstream ideas about the effectiveness of nuclear deterrence and the stability it supposedly provides.

Nair’s background includes work at the Stimson Institute, a think tank funded by George Soros’ Open Society Foundations and the Qatari government. These affiliations have raised questions regarding potential conflicts of interest in her new role overseeing U.S. nuclear policy.

Despite repeated requests for comment, the Department of Energy and Stimson Institute has not responded to inquiries about Nair’s appointment and her policy views.