The three remaining members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission sought to assure the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Wednesday that public safety would always be their top priority even as the Trump administration and others push them to speed up the licensing process for nuclear reactors and as they navigate recent staff departures.
At one point during the oversight hearing, Sen. Adam B. Schiff, D-Calif., asked each of the NRC commissioners whether they were concerned about being fired from the commission “by a president who has demonstrated willingness to fire commissioners without cause.”
“I certainly think that we’ve seen that happen,” Commissioner Matthew Marzano responded, seemingly referring to the firing in June of NRC Commissioner Christopher Hanson. “But ultimately, the NRC will not license a reactor that is unsafe.”
