WASHINGTON (May 23, 2025)—President Trump signed executive orders today all but nullifying the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)’s independent regulatory processes, undermining the independent federal agency’s ability to develop and enforce safety and security requirements for commercial nuclear facilities. This push by the Trump administration to usurp much of the agency’s autonomy as they seek to fast track the construction of nuclear plants will weaken critical, independent oversight of the U.S. nuclear industry and poses significant safety and security risks to the public, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
Below is a statement by Dr. Edwin Lyman, director of nuclear power safety at UCS.
“Simply put, the U.S. nuclear industry will fail if safety is not made a priority. By fatally compromising the independence and integrity of the NRC, and by encouraging pathways for nuclear deployment that bypass the regulator entirely, the Trump administration is virtually guaranteeing that this country will see a serious accident or other radiological release that will affect the health, safety and livelihoods of millions. Such a disaster will destroy public trust in nuclear power and cause other nations to reject U.S. nuclear technology for decades to come.”