Trump Administration Moves to End Longstanding Radiation Safety Rule for Nuclear Power Plants

The Trump administration is pushing to eliminate a decades-old radiation safety practice that limits how much radiation nuclear power plants can release into the environment. The move, reported by the Associated Press, aligns with President Trump's broader push to boost nuclear energy as a reliable source of low-carbon electricity. The safety rule, based on the "linear no-threshold" (LNT) model, assumes that any amount of radiation, no matter how small, increases cancer risk. The administration argues that this standard is outdated and overly restrictive, and that modern science shows low doses may not be harmful. Nuclear industry groups have long called for a change, saying the LNT model costs them billions in unnecessary compliance costs and stifles innovation. Regulators at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) have begun a process to replace the rule with a threshold-based approach, which would allow higher radiation exposure limits. Public health advocates, however, warn that weakening the standard could increase cancer risks for workers and nearby communities. The NRC is expected to release a formal proposal within weeks, setting off a bitter regulatory fight. If adopted, the new rule could accelerate the construction of new reactors and extend the life of aging plants, but critics say it ignores decades of scientific consensus on radiation dangers.