The Senate grilled NRC leaders this week on whether President Trump’s nuclear push is putting safety at risk. (E&E News)
NRC Chair David Wright confirmed a DOE official previously suggested the agency would be expected to “rubber-stamp” reactors approved by Energy or Defense—an expectation Wright said he rejected.
Lawmakers flagged new rules requiring White House review of NRC actions, raising fears of backroom influence. Democratic commissioners warned executive pressure and staff losses could undermine safety.
Despite the tensions, Wright and other commissioners stressed they will not compromise on safety and remain optimistic about deploying new reactors.