Senators Skeptical of NRC Plan to Reuse DOE, DOD Data for Licensing Efficiency

During a fiscal 2027 budget hearing, U.S. senators expressed skepticism regarding the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) strategy to streamline reactor licensing by reusing data from the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense. NRC Chairman Ho Nieh assured lawmakers that this efficiency drive would not compromise safety standards or result in rubber-stamped approvals, emphasizing a rigorous review process. However, he did not directly address how the agency would validate external data. The push for efficiency coincides with significant resource constraints, as the White House’s budget proposal includes an 8.1% funding cut and a 7% workforce reduction for the NRC. Commissioner Bradley Crowell highlighted a severe staffing crisis, noting the loss of 510 experienced employees against only 59 new hires in the past 16 months. This attrition of senior experts raises concerns about burnout and the agency's capacity to handle growing workloads driven by demand for nuclear energy from AI data centers and industrial growth. Lawmakers questioned whether the NRC can maintain safety rigor amidst these dwindling resources and increasing operational pressures.