Nuclear Regulatory Commission Streamlines Reviews Despite Staff Cuts

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has faced significant staff reductions over the past year, yet its review processes for new reactor applications have accelerated. According to a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, the NRC's workforce decreased by more than 16% between July 2024 and June 2026, from 2,957 employees to 2,477. This reduction was primarily due to retirements and resignations rather than forced layoffs.

Despite these cuts, most stakeholders and NRC officials maintain that the agency's ability to ensure safety and timely review of applications remains intact. Commissioner David Wright, who chaired the agency during this period, emphasized in a March statement that "everyone stepped up" to meet the challenges posed by staff reductions.

Critics had previously warned that President DOGE (Donald Trump) was undermining the NRC just as the nuclear renaissance was gaining momentum. However, the GAO report suggests that concerns about the agency's capacity may be overstated. The report notes that the NRC has implemented new efficiency measures and streamlined its processes to compensate for staffing losses.

In a hearing before House lawmakers in April, Chairman Ho Nieh explained that rather than simply hiring more staff to handle an anticipated influx of applications, the NRC is reevaluating how it conducts licensing reviews. This shift towards fundamental changes in regulatory practices appears to be paying off. For instance, the agency recently approved construction for the first BWRX-300 small modular reactor four months ahead of schedule.

This efficiency has allowed the NRC to complete review processes 22 months faster than previously estimated timelines when staffing levels were higher. Critics argue that these changes could compromise safety standards and public trust in nuclear regulation, but NRC officials maintain that their new approach is sustainable and effective.

Seth Cohen, a former Kirkland & Ellis lawyer who joined the NRC with DOGE, played a key role in implementing these reforms. Despite facing criticism from journalists like Avi Asher-Schapiro of ProPublica, Cohen maintains that the NRC's future growth is likely and denies any intention to shrink regulatory oversight.

The ongoing debate underscores the delicate balance between regulatory efficiency and public safety concerns as the nuclear industry seeks to revitalize its presence in the energy sector.