The Leadership of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Chairman Issa Hearing Preview Statement

This hearing will focus on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in the wake of reports that the NRC’s Chairman has abused his office and mismanaged his responsibilities to the detriment of the commission’s critical work. The concerns about the Chairman are shared amongst the four commissioners – two Democrats and two Republicans. Three of the four were appointed by President Obama. Their joint complaints are not about differences in policy or safety with the Chairman. Rather, their concern involves how the Chairman exercises his responsibilities, intimidates staff, and undermines the law put in place by Congress designating the commission – not the chairman – as the agency’s ultimate authority.

An investigation undertaken by the committee has exposed a hostile work environment that is detrimental to the mission of the NRC. It is a detriment to the staff, the Commissioners, and the reputation of the agency. While Chairman Jaczko professes that safety is his number one priority, his leadership style is simultaneously eroding the NRC’s ability to execute its mission. It is important that we understand the root cause of this problem and restore the public’s confidence in the integrity of this agency.