The Trump administration's recent executive order, announced on February 18, jeopardizes nuclear safety in the U.S. by placing independent agencies like the Nuclear Regulatory Commission under presidential control. This order restricts the NRC's ability to issue regulations and guidance, prioritizing political considerations over public safety. Experts warn that such regulatory capture echoes historical nuclear disasters, where the prioritization of political motives led to catastrophic accidents like Chernobyl and Fukushima. The fear is that this shift will increase the chances of nuclear mishaps, undermining decades of safety oversight.
For the last several decades, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has operated as an independent body overseeing the safety of nuclear energy, but this new order threatens that integrity.
The implications of such regulatory capture extend beyond mere politics; they invoke memories of historical nuclear disasters, serving as a cautionary tale about the deadly consequences of compromising safety for political expediency.
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