Issa Releases Report on Abuse and Mismanagement at the NRC

Press Release

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa today released findings from an investigation on the crisis at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The report,"How the Actions of Chairman Gregory Jaczko are Damaging the Nuclear Regulatory Commission," presents findings from an investigation by the Oversight Committee. Committee investigators reviewed over 25,000 documents and conducted transcribed interviews of 15 NRC employees.

"The Oversight Committee's investigation of leadership problems plaguing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission substantiates concerns raised by the group of four bipartisan commissioners who have told the White House that Chairman Jaczko is creating a chilled environment while seriously damaging this agency and its critical mission of ensuring nuclear safety," said Chairman Issa. "The commission and its career staff are facing a crisis. Downplaying these serious problems won't resolve them."

Key findings of the report include:

Chairman Jaczko and his staff used political considerations to try to intimidate and influence other Democratic Commissioners' votes on matters related to Yucca Mountain.

Chairman Jaczko pressured staff to support his policy priorities in order to gain leverage over his colleagues on the Commission.

Chairman Jaczko's aggressive behavior and attempts to threaten or intimidate his colleagues prevents constructive discussion among Commissioners and undermines the NRC's deliberative process.

Chairman Jaczko became "shaking angry" and accused the Deputy Executive Director for Operations of being dishonest when a vote paper delivered to the Commission did not conform to his desires, interests, or views. Staff had already significantly altered the paper to conform to the Chairman's vision.
Chairman Jaczko stated an expectation that he should see voting papers before they are shared with his colleagues. Having prior access to voting papers would allow the Chairman to pressure staff to pull back or otherwise edit papers contrary to his policy priorities. This instruction represented a "defining moment" for the Deputy Executive Director for Operations.

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