Trump Fires NRC Member Amid Agency Control Dispute

President Donald Trump has fired Christopher Hanson, a Democratic member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), in a move that has raised concerns over the agency's independence. The termination, delivered without cause via a brief email, breaks with legal norms protecting independent agency appointees and has drawn criticism from nuclear safety advocates. The White House claims the firing aligns with Trump's 'energy dominance' strategy to expedite new nuclear technologies and reduce regulatory barriers. Recent Supreme Court decisions have bolstered the administration's efforts to assert greater presidential control over independent regulatory bodies. Major tech companies and international reactor markets are closely monitoring how these changes might affect U.S. nuclear project approvals and competitiveness. This incident escalates tensions between the administration and those prioritizing the NRC's traditional independent oversight role.