Democrats within the Nuclear Regulation Commission (NRC) allege that President Trump unlawfully dismissed Christopher Hanson from his position.
In a posting on LinkedIn, Hanson stated that Trump’s decision to terminate him from the independent body governing nuclear safety occurred without any given reason, which he argues violates existing laws and longstanding precedents regarding the removal of independent officials.
Previously, the NRC held a 3-2 Democratic majority. Each commissioner, appointed by the president, serves a five-year term.
Although Hanson is a Democrat, he was actually nominated by Trump back in 2020.
A White House spokesperson defended the dismissal, asserting that “Every organization needs leaders aligned in purpose. President Trump has the authority to remove employees within his executive branch who will be carrying out his agenda,” said Anna Kelly.
This termination aligns with the White House’s broader strategy to remove Democrats from various independent committees and boards, such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Federal Energy Regulation Commission.
While the president typically appoints members to these panels, they function independently from any particular administration, unlike other federal agencies whose appointees report directly to the president.
Last week, a judge ruled that Trump’s firing of three Democrats from the CPSC was unlawful.
In his LinkedIn post, Hanson mentioned that the NRC was “working to prepare the institutions for anticipated changes in the energy sector,” all while upholding the agency’s independence, integrity, and bipartisan reputation, which he described as the world’s Gold Standard in nuclear safety.
“It was an honor to serve alongside dedicated NRC civil servants. I have complete confidence in their commitment to safeguard public health and the environment,” he noted.
As the Trump administration moves to revamp the Nuclear Safety Agency, layoffs are anticipated. In April, the president signed an executive order instructing the NRC to reassess its safety standards, claiming they were excessively stringent.
The executive order laid out a condensed timeline for environmental evaluations and aimed to quadruple the nation’s nuclear capacity by 2050.
Safety advocates have voiced their concerns regarding Hanson’s termination.
“President Hanson’s removal from the NRC represents yet another attempt to undermine the independence and integrity of agencies that are crucial for preventing nuclear disasters akin to those that affected the former Soviet Union and Japan,” they stated.
“Hanson was a dedicated public servant who strongly supported the NRC’s mission to protect public health. Losing knowledgeable and fair individuals jeopardizes public safety across the country as the White House continues to compromise the security of the U.S. nuclear fleet,” Lyman further elaborated.
