NRC cuts nuclear security inspections by approximately 50 percent

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission voted to phase out agency-led "force-on-force" security inspection programs at operating reactors, a move safety advocates say represents a failure in government responsibility to protect Americans from attacks on nuclear plants. The NRC has led these mock commando-style attack exercises since 1991, and Congress strengthened the program after September 11, 2001 to require them at every nuclear plant every three years. Under the approved changes, the number of annualized FOF inspection hours will drop from 287 hours to 149-170 hours, a reduction of approximately 40-48%. Starting in 2028, nuclear plants will conduct their own security drills instead of independent NRC oversight. Eight of 11 security inspection procedures are being eliminated. The changes align with Trump administration efforts to accelerate nuclear deregulation to meet AI data center power demands, with pressure on the NRC to quickly approve permits for quadrupling U.S. nuclear capacity to 400 gigawatts by 2050.