The Nuclear Regulatory Commission proposed eliminating the ALARA principle—“as low as reasonably achievable”—after decades of guiding radiation safety for nuclear plants, hospitals, and academic facilities using radioactive materials. The proposal would replace ALARA with a “graded approach” tied to risk and potential dose levels, while keeping dose limits unchanged. NRC Chairman Ho Nieh said the regulator is not lowering safety standards, but aims to remove “ambiguity” by requiring more structured protections when facilities near dose limits. The change is expected to be finalized in coming months, and NRC leadership suggested traditional large reactor fleets may see limited impact while new smaller reactor designs could move faster with clearer requirements. The policy shift arrives as the Trump administration seeks to quadruple nuclear energy production. For universities and research centers that use radioactive materials, the move could reshape compliance documentation, safety protocols, and training requirements depending on how the graded approach is implemented.