Nuclear Regulatory Commission nominee Ho Nieh committed Wednesday to upholding the agency’s safety and independence missions after intense questioning from Democrats.
The issue of agency independence, and potential encroachment by the Trump administration, was particularly salient during the confirmation hearing because Nieh would replace a commissioner — Chris Hanson — President Donald Trump fired.
Democrats say the move was illegal. Republicans say that the White House had reason and authority to remove him because of alleged slow-walking of nuclear reactor approvals.
Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), one of the nuclear energy industry’s critics on Capitol Hill, said, “This administration has already shown it will fire NRC commissioners who it sees focusing too much on safety.” Markey told Nieh, “That’s the commissioner you’re replacing.”
