President Donald J. Trump signed a sweeping executive order Friday to reform and accelerate the testing and deployment of advanced nuclear reactors within the Department of Energy (DOE). The order, titled “Reforming Nuclear Reactor Testing at the Department of Energy,” seeks to dismantle regulatory hurdles and re-establish American dominance in nuclear innovation, a field the President says has been stifled by “overregulated complacency.”
The directive underscores the administration’s view that nuclear energy is vital for a reliable, diversified, and affordable domestic energy supply, crucial for advanced technologies, manufacturing, national security, and modern life.
Despite pioneering civilian nuclear power, the U.S. has seen the commercial deployment of new nuclear technologies nearly halt. The Idaho National Laboratory, a key testing site, has not concluded construction of new reactors since it started in the 1970s.
READ: Alabama, Indiana Senators Introduce “No Loan Forgiveness For Terrorists Act”
“Our proud history of innovation has succumbed to overregulated complacency,” the order states, declaring, “That changes today. It is the policy of my Administration to foster nuclear innovation and bring advanced nuclear technologies into domestic production as soon as possible.”
The executive order outlines several key actions:
- Expedited Approval for “Qualified Test Reactors”: The Secretary of Energy is mandated to issue guidance within 60 days defining “qualified test reactors”—advanced reactors deemed technically and financially feasible for operation within two years of a complete application. Within 90 days, the Secretary must revise DOE regulations and procedures to significantly expedite the review and deployment of such reactors at DOE-owned or controlled facilities, aiming for a two-year operational timeline post-application.
- Dedicated Support Teams: Upon receiving a substantially complete application for a qualified test reactor, the Secretary will establish a dedicated team, reporting directly to the Secretary, to assist applicants in navigating the approval process.
- Pilot Program Outside National Laboratories: A new pilot program will be created for reactor construction and operation outside of National Laboratories, under DOE control. The ambitious goal is to approve at least three such reactors and achieve criticality in each by July 4, 2026.
- Streamlined Environmental Reviews: By June 30, 2025, the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Council on Environmental Quality, must reform DOE rules governing compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This includes using all available authorities to eliminate or expedite environmental reviews through measures such as categorical exclusions and reliance on supplemental analyses for existing sites.
READ :Navarro On Thin Ice At “The View” After Reportedly Defying Disney CEO’s Call To Cool Trump Criticism
The order emphasizes the “revolutionary potential” of advanced reactors, including microreactors, small modular reactors (SMRs), and Generation IV and III+ designs, for applications ranging from data centers and petrochemical production to healthcare and hydrogen production. It laments that the U.S. has “effectively throttled the domestic deployment of advanced reactors, ceding the initiative to foreign nations.”
“Just like car engines need fuel, nuclear reactors need fuel. Right now, the U.S. is completely dependent on other countries to make the key step of enrichment in this fuel, and these Executive Orders are going to pave the way for the U.S. to regain its lead,” said General Matter CEO Scott Nolan.
Implementation of the order will involve collaboration between the Secretary of Energy, the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) Team Lead at DOE, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
