DOGE Operative With No Nuclear Experience Takes Charge of Safety Meetings at Idaho National Laboratory
A 31-year-old lawyer from Musk's efficiency team repeatedly downplayed radiation concerns at America's premier nuclear facility
Cohen convened a group of Department of Energy officials at the 890-square-mile Idaho facility — where the US built its first nuclear power plant in 1951 — to discuss the future of nuclear energy in the Trump era. During the meeting, he led conversations about licensing nuclear reactor designs despite having just five years of legal experience and no nuclear background.
When staff raised concerns about radiation exposure from nuclear test sites, Cohen reportedly broke in to dismiss them. The incident highlights growing tensions between DOGE's Silicon Valley move-fast ethos and the deeply technical, safety-critical nature of nuclear regulation.
The nuclear industry has historically operated under some of the most stringent safety protocols in any sector, developed through decades of experience including catastrophic failures at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima.
Analysis
Why This Matters
Nuclear safety is not software — you cannot move fast and break things when radiation is involved. Inserting inexperienced political appointees into safety-critical technical discussions carries real risks.
Background
DOGE has placed operatives across federal agencies to identify inefficiencies and cut costs. The nuclear regulatory space is the latest frontier, and arguably the most dangerous one for the efficiency-first approach.
Key Perspectives
Nuclear industry veterans and safety advocates are alarmed by the dismissal of radiation concerns by someone with no domain expertise. DOGE supporters argue that regulatory capture has made nuclear development unnecessarily slow and expensive.
What to Watch
Whether this leads to actual regulatory changes that weaken nuclear safety standards, and how the Nuclear Regulatory Commission responds to DOGE pressure.