Redesign of DOGE's nuclear regulatory body sparks worries over the agency's dedication to safety maintenance

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is set to undergo a significant reorganization, as per executive orders signed by President Donald Trump on May 23, 2025. The reorganization aims to streamline operations, promote expeditious processing of license applications, and adopt innovative technology in the commercial nuclear industry.

However, the reorganization has drawn criticism from nuclear safety advocates and congressional Democrats. They warn that cutting regulatory staff could compromise public health and safety. Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists, believes the reorganization could take resources away from oversight and inspections.

The May 23 EO requires the NRC to reduce the personnel and functions of the Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards to the minimum necessary to fulfill its statutory obligations. This could potentially impact the committee's ability to review safety studies and applications for reactor facility licenses and renewals.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., has pledged to ensure the NRC implements the ADVANCE Act in alignment with Trump's executive orders. The ADVANCE Act, a bipartisan 2024 law, aims to overhaul new reactor technology licensing. The reorganization also mandates workforce reductions, but allows for staffing increases in areas like new reactor licensing.

The reorganization's coordinator is not specified by name, but the executive order establishes a team of at least 20 officials to draft new regulations and implement structural reforms at the NRC. The Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans have pledged to continue working with the president to implement the ADVANCE Act and modernize the NRC.

Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., has criticized the involvement of DOGE in the mandated reorganization, stating it increases the risk of an accident. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., did not respond to a request for comment regarding the ADVANCE Act and the executive orders.

The NRC, in fiscal 2023, set a goal to bring on 400 new staffers but only managed to hire 281, falling 160 workers short of the budgeted positions, according to a 2024 inspector general report. The ADVANCE Act contains provisions intended to streamline hiring at the NRC. However, the concerns about staffing reductions persist.

The National Treasury Employees Union, which represents NRC workers, declined to comment. The reorganization is expected to have far-reaching implications for the safety and efficiency of the commercial nuclear industry. As the process unfolds, the debate on the balance between modernization and safety will continue.

Redesign of DOGE's nuclear regulatory body sparks worries over the agency's dedication to safety maintenance