DOGE goes nuclear: How Trump invited SV into America's nuclear power regulator
5 hours ago
- #nuclear-energy
- #silicon-valley
- #regulatory-capture
- The Trump administration is rapidly rewriting rules to support nuclear power plant development, easing regulations and providing financial breaks for the industry.
- Career experts at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) are being forced out, and safety oversight is being limited, raising concerns about regulatory independence.
- Silicon Valley-backed nuclear startups, with strong political connections, are influencing policy, pushing for deregulation and faster approval of reactor designs.
- The NRC has lost over 400 staff since Trump took office, with hiring slowing significantly, particularly in safety-critical roles.
- The administration aims to quadruple nuclear energy output to meet the demands of AI data centers, prioritizing speed over safety.
- Internal documents reveal plans to relax radiation exposure limits, potentially cutting costs for nuclear companies but raising health and safety concerns.
- Key figures like Seth Cohen, a DOE official with ties to Silicon Valley, are driving the deregulatory agenda, often dismissing safety concerns.
- The DOE has sidelined its health experts on radiation safety and abandoned the 'ALARA' principle, which minimizes radiation exposure.
- Critics, including former NRC officials, warn that the erosion of regulatory independence could lead to safety lapses and public distrust.
- Silicon Valley investors, including Peter Thiel and Marc Andreessen, are heavily involved in shaping nuclear policy, with some startups given advanced access to draft regulations.