Former President Donald Trump has signed new executive orders aimed at speeding up the growth of nuclear energy in the United States. These actions are designed to reduce government delays, encourage domestic uranium production, and place new reactors on military sites.
One of the main goals is to shorten the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s approval process for new reactors. At present, the process can take more than ten years. Under the new orders, the goal is to reduce that timeline to just 18 months. This change could make it easier and faster to build modern nuclear power systems.
The orders also call for a new partnership between the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense. These agencies will work together to develop small modular reactors. These reactors will be tested and used on military bases, giving them a stable energy supply that is not connected to the main power grid. This step is seen as an important way to improve national security while supporting clean energy development.
The Department of Defense is expected to become the first major user of these nuclear systems. By doing so, it will help create early demand and support long-term production and deployment across the country.
Another part of the orders focuses on domestic uranium production. The U.S. currently depends on imported uranium for most of its nuclear fuel. To address this, the executive orders direct federal support toward increasing mining and enrichment capacity within the country. This is expected to help secure a steady fuel supply for future nuclear plants and reduce reliance on foreign sources.
These actions come after Trump declared a national emergency in January. He raised concerns about the country’s ability to meet rising electricity demand. A large part of this demand is coming from artificial intelligence and data centers, which require massive amounts of energy to operate.
Until now, the administration had mainly promoted fossil fuels like oil, coal, and gas. With these new orders, nuclear energy is being added to the mix as a cleaner and more stable source of power.
Nuclear power is seen as a strong option for providing reliable electricity with low carbon emissions. It can run 24 hours a day in all weather conditions. Small modular reactors are also easier and cheaper to build than traditional nuclear plants, which could help expand their use in both military and civilian settings.
The United States is also trying to keep pace with other countries. Russia and China are rapidly developing their nuclear programs and selling their technology abroad. By improving its own system, the U.S. hopes to remain a leader in energy innovation and create new jobs in fields like engineering, construction, and mining.
These executive orders set the stage for a major policy shift. Federal agencies will now begin the work of turning these plans into reality. If successful, the U.S. could move toward a more secure and modern energy future.