President Donald Trump on Friday signed a series of executive orders aimed at revitalizing the US nuclear energy sector, including measures to fast-track reactor construction and ramp up domestic uranium production.
“We’re signing tremendous executive orders today that really will make us the real power in this industry,” Trump said during the signing ceremony in the Oval Office.
The four directives are designed to accelerate the approval and construction of new nuclear reactors, especially smaller, advanced reactors suited to the growing energy demands of major tech firms like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google. These companies have increasingly turned to nuclear power in their pursuit of carbon-free electricity.
The executive orders include a significant restructuring of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), requiring it to issue decisions on new reactor applications within 18 months. This overhaul follows White House concerns that the NRC has been overly cautious and slow-moving.
Trump dismissed concerns that expediting regulatory processes would compromise safety. “We’re going to get it very fast and very safe,” he assured. “It’s time for nuclear and we’re going to do it very big.”
White House science and technology advisor Michael Kratsios called the move “truly historic,” describing it as a foundation for an “American nuclear renaissance.”
A senior official revealed that the administration intends to “test and deploy” new reactor designs before Trump’s second term ends in January 2029, should he remain in office.
The president also declared an “energy emergency” on his return to office earlier this year, doubling down on fossil fuel production while now also embracing nuclear energy to meet America’s surging energy needs.
Trump’s orders seek to reverse US dependence on foreign uranium. In 2023, most uranium used by the US was imported from Canada, Australia, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. However, a 2024 ban on uranium imports from Russia—implemented in response to the ongoing war in Ukraine—has spurred new urgency for domestic mining and enrichment.
The resurgence of nuclear interest comes amid skyrocketing global energy prices and renewed focus on clean energy solutions. While nuclear power remains controversial, particularly in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster, it has regained traction as countries search for carbon-neutral energy alternatives.
In the US, two energy firms are reportedly working to restart shuttered plants, including the infamous Three Mile Island facility, which was the site of the country’s worst nuclear accident in 1979.
Trump’s bold nuclear push marks a notable shift in his broader energy strategy, positioning nuclear alongside fossil fuels in his quest for American energy dominance.
What you should know
President Trump’s executive orders aim to fast-track nuclear reactor construction and revive domestic uranium production, reflecting a strategic pivot toward nuclear energy to meet tech-driven electricity demand and strengthen U.S. energy independence.
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