Protect nuclear safety programs

**Oppose Fast-Tracked Nuclear Reactor Program That Bypasses Safety Oversight** I am writing to urge you to oppose the Trump administration's Reactor Pilot Program at the Department of Energy, which is rushing nearly a dozen new nuclear reactor designs toward operation by July 4, 2026. This program fundamentally undermines the safety oversight framework that has protected Americans for half a century. The program represents a dangerous reversal of nuclear regulation. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which has served as our primary nuclear safety regulator since the 1970s, has been relegated to a consulting role while the DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy runs the program. The NRC was created in 1975 specifically to separate safety oversight from nuclear promotion after the Atomic Energy Commission's dual role was recognized as a serious conflict of interest. This new program recreates that exact problem. The manufactured July 4, 2026 deadline is putting enormous pressure on safety reviews. Former NRC Chair Allison Macfarlane warns that the tight deadline, political pressure, and lack of transparency are compromising safety, stating: "This is not normal, and this is not OK, and this is not going to lead to success. This is how to have an accident." The DOE is currently evaluating proposals with approximately 30 subject matter experts and has requested volunteer support from universities, suggesting serious resource constraints for such critical safety work. The program includes three reactors from Oklo, a startup whose previous application was rejected by the NRC in 2022 due to significant information gaps in safety analysis. Oklo's CEO attended the executive order signing, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright previously served on Oklo's board, raising serious questions about conflicts of interest. A recent memorandum of understanding between the NRC and DOE calls for expedited approval of reactor designs tested by DOE. This means the NRC's commercial licensing process will rely on the DOE's hasty analysis, potentially compromising safety for hundreds of reactors that could be built across the country near populated areas. I urge you to demand that any new nuclear reactor development maintain full NRC oversight with transparent public review processes and adequate time for thorough safety analysis. Innovation should not come at the expense of public safety.