‘not Under Attack’: Nrc Chair Dismisses Claims Of Trump Interference

The chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission told lawmakers that his agency is not under attack from the Trump administration, pushing back on claims from Democrats and nuclear safety advocates that recent moves have compromised the independence of the nation’s chief nuclear energy regulator.

It was Republican Chair Ho Nieh’s first appearance on Capitol Hill since his confirmation in a bipartisan Senate vote in December. While the House Energy and Commerce hearing was officially focused on the agency’s budget, Democrats pressed Nieh and four other commissioners on whether the White House was doing lasting damage to an agency long considered the “gold standard” of nuclear safety.

“Do you believe that Trump’s attacks on the NRC’s independence and staffing cuts undermine public confidence in the NRC and the safety of nuclear energy?" Rep. Rob Menendez (D-N.J.) asked all five commissioners.

President Donald Trump has reshaped the commission, including removing a Democratic member, shifting some authority to the Department of Energy and requiring White House review of draft rules.

Nieh said he does not believe the agency is under attack. His fellow Republican commissioners agreed, with David Wright calling it a "trick question" and Douglas Weaver saying he had not seen any attacks during his short tenure.

Menendez countered that Nieh’s position was difficult to square with the fact that some commissioners believe they could be fired at will. The NRC’s two Democratic commissioners, Bradley Crowell and Matthew Marzano, reiterated statements from a hearing last year that they could be removed at the president's whim.

Commissioners also addressed more specific concerns about independence, including a proposed rule that would create a new pathway for companies to seek NRC licenses after first working with the Department of Energy or the Pentagon on advanced reactor designs.

Democrats argue that allowing DOE to evaluate reactor safety could undercut the NRC’s traditional role as an independent regulator of commercial nuclear technology.

Nieh said the rule would not amount to a “rubber stamp,” but would instead prevent the agency from duplicating safety reviews.

“We are not going to be a rubber stamp, but there’s no need to retread the tire on things that we feel confident meet our regulations,” Nieh said.

Lawmakers also raised concerns about a proposal to shift staff from reactor inspections to licensing new reactors. The plan, stemming from the bipartisan ADVANCE Act, could result in up to 40 percent of reactor oversight staff — those who monitor existing plants to ensure safety — being reassigned or losing their jobs.

Committee ranking member Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) warned the move could jeopardize safety as the agency continues to lose staff and went beyond the intent of the bipartisan law.

Crowell echoed that concern. “I’m worried that if we move too quickly to minimize our inspection and oversight programs, we’re going to end up with unforced errors or negative outcomes that could undermine our broader effort to move toward a nuclear renaissance,” Crowell said.

Republicans, for their part, praised the agency’s efforts to streamline permitting and regulatory processes to accelerate new reactor development.

“I would say the NRC seems to be firing on all cylinders right now,” Energy and Commerce Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) said.