Overview

• President Trump terminated Commissioner Christopher Hanson without cause in a two-sentence email late Friday.
• Hanson called the removal illegal and contrary to longstanding precedent for independent agency appointees.
• His departure leaves the four-member commission evenly split between Trump and Biden appointees.
• White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said regulators must “row in the same direction” to advance the administration’s priorities.
• Safety advocates warn that replacing an independent regulator could weaken oversight and heighten risks in reactor approvals.