President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders aimed at dramatically accelerating the development and deployment of next-generation nuclear energy technologies across the United States. The moves mark a significant push to re-establish U.S. leadership in nuclear energy, emphasizing national security, energy independence, and technological innovation.

The most comprehensive order, Deploying Nuclear Reactor Technologies for National Security, directs the Department of Defense and Department of Energy (DOE) to install advanced reactors at military bases and DOE sites, with at least one reactor to be operational by 2028. The order also designates AI data centers located at DOE facilities as critical defense infrastructure, underscoring nuclear energy’s role in powering high-demand computing.

A notable shift in policy is support for commercial nuclear fuel recycling—long discouraged in the U.S. The DOE is now tasked with identifying and processing usable uranium and plutonium from its stockpiles to support reactor fuel production. This effort is coupled with initiatives to increase the domestic supply of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), which is essential for many advanced reactor designs.

Another order, Reforming the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, calls for reorganizing and streamlining the NRC to speed up licensing. The commission is expected to render final decisions on new reactor applications within 18 months, a dramatic acceleration from current timelines. However, concerns have been raised about the impact of staffing reductions and diminished independence on the agency’s effectiveness and global credibility.

In Reforming Nuclear Reactor Testing, the administration directs national laboratories to expedite reactor testing processes and establish pathways for new testing facilities. While no new construction is explicitly mandated, the DOE must ensure that test reactors can be operational within two years of a complete application.

Finally, Reinvigorating the Nuclear Industrial Base outlines broader goals to quadruple U.S. nuclear capacity to 400 GW by 2050, restart closed plants, and expand workforce development. The orders also call for revitalized nuclear exports and stronger international partnerships to reduce reliance on foreign fuel sources. While broadly aligned with earlier policies, the new orders mark a more aggressive federal posture, especially in regulatory reform and private sector engagement.