Another unexpected course correction took place when President Donald Trump suddenly decided to terminate Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner Christopher Hanson. His decision not only represented his eagerness to dismantle the outdated independence of this commission but also underscored the necessity of executing more grounded reviews of the safety guidelines tied to pending nuclear reactors. Trump’s dismissal of Hanson, who had been appointed by him in 2020 and later given the role of Chair by then-President Joe Biden the following year, came amidst an attempt by the White House to gain supremacy over the agency.
The renomination of Hanson by the Biden administration and its approval through a largely bipartisan Senate vote in 2024 couldn’t save him from the chopping block. The news of his dismissal came swiftly and without frills, sent via an email from the White House, which unceremoniously concluded with a curt, ‘Thank you for your service.’
As Trump reserved his sovereign right to discharge members of the Executive Branch who undermine his authority, the act confirmed the known truth; that organizations function most effectively when their leaders work in harmony, singing the same tunes.
Hanson’s shocking dismissal wasn’t an isolated event, however. It followed a number of other dismissals within the administrative bodies across the government – a strategy currently being complexly pursued in court. The Democrats, quick to judge, alleged Trump violated the 1946 Atomic Energy Act, even though the said act was specifically created for the establishment of the nation’s civilian nuclear energy program.
The 1946 atomic legislation, later amended in 1954, stated that a commissioner could be terminated for demonstrated inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in the office. How does this imply that Trump’s significant house cleaning operation was illegal? Is it not important for the independence of the agency to align with the president’s objectives to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the American people?
We must remember that reliable, robust, and fully integrated U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is a crucial prerequisite for the rapid deployment of new reactors and emerging technologies.
Understandably, uncertainty surrounding dismissals with Justice up in the air could threaten nuclear energy expansion in America. However, the quality of ongoing technical safety reviews should be priority, particularly for the forthcoming advanced smaller modular reactors. The NRC’s duty does not solely lie in moving through applications at a fast pace but to carry out meticulous inspections.
Last month’s series of executive orders and proclamations from Trump argued that the NRC posed unnecessary hurdles in front of the evolution of new reactor technologies. These roadblocks came in the form of redundant safety regulations and painfully slow clearance of permits. The finger was pointed squarely at Christopher Hanson, whose term as Chair guided the commission staff’s acceleration of action on licensing matters.
But were these actions in harmony with Congress’s directives to streamline regulatory reviews? Former NRC Chair Stephen Burns believes so. However, the purpose of tossing Hanson out of the window remains vague and shrouded in speculation. This cloud of uncertainty is feared to hover over the remaining Democrats in the commission.
The authoritative tactic exhibited by Trump has led many, including another former NRC Chair, Richard Meserve, to suspect the President’s intention to dismantle the independence of the NRC. Consequently, one must ask: Will the NRC’s decisions on safety matters now be tinged with political biases? This concern escalates as the NRC is met with the restrictions of Trump’s executive order while simultaneously burdened with staffing reductions.
Success in wrapping up the executive order’s stern deadlines already seemed improbable. Collapsing the agency’s management unnecessarily only complicates the process. Concerns also rise regarding the NRC’s capability of adhering to policy reviews if the leadership consistently finds itself on shaking grounds.
Even if Wright is reintroduced to the picture, an expeditious Senate confirmation seems essentially impossible, given the current political ambiance. These findings substantiate the theory that the Commission’s regulatory speed diminishes when its membership dwindles to three, representing different political parties, as a single commissioner can obstruct a creation of a voting quorum.
Needless to say, the NRC is desperately in need of reformation and modernization. The resulting deadlock from the wheeling and dealing around nuclear energy may potentially damage the industry, just as it has done over the previous generations. But isn’t it clear that these attempts will inevitably crash and burn if they are built on shaky foundations, rooted in divisive partisanship?
The post Trump Cleans House: Hanson’s Dismissal Underlines Weak Biden Regime appeared first on Real News Now.
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