Gathering at Idaho National Laboratory
Last summer, Department of Energy officials convened at the expansive 890-square-mile Idaho National Laboratory in eastern Idaho's desert. This facility, where the US built its first rudimentary nuclear power plant in 1951, remains a hub for testing advanced technology.
Trump-Era Nuclear Discussions
The meeting addressed nuclear energy's trajectory in the Trump era, organized by 31-year-old lawyer Seth Cohen. Fresh from law school and lacking nuclear law or policy experience, Cohen entered government through Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency team.
Cohen's Leadership and Safety Dismissals
Cohen directed the group through technical details on licensing nuclear reactor designs, consistently minimizing health and safety issues. When staff raised radiation exposure from test sites, Cohen interjected abruptly.
