Trump’s DOGE Just Took Over America’s Nuclear Regulator

Silicon Valley now has direct control over the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. A senior official told industry leaders: “Assume the NRC is going to do whatever we tell the NRC to do.”

The move came through Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which placed tech executives into key positions at the independent agency that oversees all U.S. nuclear power plants and safety standards. These appointees answer to Elon Musk’s DOGE leadership, not to the NRC’s traditional oversight structure.

Industry insiders say the shift removes regulatory friction that had slowed new reactor approvals and nuclear startup funding. Companies like those in advanced reactor development now have a direct line to decision-makers. One exec described it as “unprecedented access.”

The NRC historically maintained independence to ensure public safety wasn’t compromised by industry interests. That separation no longer exists. Nuclear power companies can now shape the rules that govern their own operations.