US Nuclear Commission Job Posting Raises Concerns Over Political Loyalty Screening
Critics Slam Political Loyalty Questions in US Nuclear Commission Job Posting
A recent job posting by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has raised alarm for including politically charged questions — a move critics say amounts to a loyalty test as President Donald Trump pushes to accelerate nuclear power plant approvals.
The listing, viewed by Reuters, seeks a senior operations engineer for the division overseeing reactor safety. Applicants are asked how their belief in the US Constitution inspired their career path and how they would support the President’s executive orders and policy priorities.
Trump has recently signed executive orders aimed at overhauling the NRC’s licensing process, requiring it to decide on new nuclear plant permits within 18 months — part of his broader push to meet surging energy demand driven by AI and data centers.
Concerns of Politicization
The inclusion of political questions in NRC hiring practices marks a sharp departure from past procedures, where focus remained strictly on professional qualifications. A current NRC employee, speaking anonymously, said such politically framed questions were not used under previous administrations.
Former NRC chairman Gregory Jaczko called the questions a “political litmus test,” warning that they threaten the agency’s independence. “If I saw something like this as Chairman, I would have them removed immediately,” said Jaczko, comparing the language to a page from Orwell’s Animal Farm.
Broader Scrutiny
Scott Burnell, an NRC spokesperson, defended the listing, saying it complies with Office of Personnel Management rules.
Not all questions in the posting were political. Some focused on work ethic and required applicants to confirm they did not use AI to generate responses.
The controversy follows Trump’s firing of Democratic NRC Commissioner Chris Hanson, a move denounced by nearly 30 former officials. Current NRC Chair David Wright recently told the Senate that a representative from Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency is now embedded in the agency to assist with reforms.
