1. United States
2. Mich.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my profound concern regarding recent reports—most notably detailed in ProPublica’s investigation, "DOGE Goes Nuclear: How Trump Invited Silicon Valley Into America’s Nuclear Power Regulator"—concerning the systematic dismantling of safety oversight at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). While the expansion of carbon-free energy is a critical goal, it must not come at the expense of the rigorous safety culture that has made the U.S. the international "gold standard" for nuclear regulation. According to recent reports, a "move fast and break things" ethos is being forced upon the NRC by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the Office of Management and Budget. This shift threatens to transform an independent watchdog into an industry promoter. Specifically, the following developments represent a direct threat to public safety and environmental integrity: Erosion of Independence: The dismissal of experienced, non-partisan commissioners and the installation of operatives with no background in nuclear safety or law undermine the agency’s core mission. Workforce Depletion: The reported "rush to the exits" of over 400 career scientists and safety experts leaves the NRC without the technical expertise required to evaluate complex new reactor designs. Arbitrary Deregulation: Executive orders mandating the rewriting of safety rules and the acceleration of approval timelines prioritize speed over the precautionary principle. Nuclear energy carries unique, long-term risks; "efficiency" should never take precedence over the containment of radiological hazards. Conflicts of Interest: Reports of DOGE operatives distributing promotional materials from nuclear startups to NRC staff suggest a breakdown in the ethical boundaries required to monitor industry compliance effectively. I urge you to take immediate legislative action to establish robust guardrails for our nuclear sector. We must ensure that "chaos" and political interference are kept out of nuclear power. I am asking you to: Codify NRC Independence: Introduce legislation that protects the NRC’s technical staff and commissioners from arbitrary removal and ensures that safety regulations are based on peer-reviewed science, not political or commercial mandates. Mandate Rigorous Environmental Reviews: Strengthen the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements for nuclear projects to ensure that "fast-tracking" does not bypass critical assessments of waste management and local ecosystem impacts. Ensure Transparency in Oversight: Require that any "efficiency" audits or regulatory rewrites by outside bodies (like DOGE) be subject to public comment and congressional review before implementation. Support Workforce Retention: Provide dedicated funding for the recruitment and retention of the specialized nuclear engineers and safety inspectors necessary to maintain oversight of both legacy plants and new technologies. Nuclear energy can only be a viable part of our environmental future if the public can trust that it is being managed with the utmost caution. We cannot afford a "trial and error" approach to radiological safety. Please act to ensure that the NRC remains a watchdog, not a rubber stamp.