DOGE goes nuclear: How trump invited silicon valley into America’s nuclear power regulator

Last summer, key officials from the Department of Energy convened at the expansive Idaho National Laboratory, a site notable for being home to the United States' first nuclear power plant established in 1951. This meeting was focused on discussing the future of nuclear energy during the Trump administration. Seth Cohen, a 31-year-old attorney with limited experience in nuclear law, led the session. Fresh from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, Cohen was tasked with steering discussions on licensing nuclear reactor designs. Throughout the meeting, he consistently minimized health and safety concerns associated with nuclear energy. When the topic of radiation exposure from nuclear test sites arose, Cohen dismissed the potential risks, stating, "They are testing in Utah... I don’t know, like 70 people live there." Despite pushback regarding the vulnerability of babies and pregnant women to low-level radiation exposure, he continued to maintain a nonchalant attitude. This dismissive approach drew some lighthearted remarks from staff, highlighting a growing tension between traditional regulatory concerns and a more aggressive, fast-paced approach that echoes the ethos of Silicon Valley. ProPublica's investigation into the meeting revealed significant changes occurring within the nuclear energy regulatory framework. The Trump administration is aggressively redefining how nuclear energy is overseen, with the intention of boosting energy availability to support burgeoning technologies, including artificial intelligence. As a result, long-standing career experts are being sidelined, and extensive regulations are being rewritten hastily. The increasing involvement of a new generation of nuclear energy firms, backed by Silicon Valley resources and influential political ties, is reshaping policy discussions in this critical sector.