President Trump signs sweeping nuclear energy orders to fast-track reactor approvals, shift regulatory power, and boost U.S. output amid rising energy demand.
 |
| Trump launches U.S. nuclear overhaul, transferring key approvals to Energy Department, aiming to outpace China and modernize energy infrastructure. Image: USEM |
WASHINGTON, USA — May 24, 2025:
US President Donald Trump signed a sweeping set of executive orders on Friday designed to accelerate the expansion of nuclear power in the United States, with the ambitious goal of quadrupling nuclear energy output within 25 years. The orders transfer critical project approval authority from the independent Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to the Department of Energy (DOE), in what Trump called a “historic reset” of America’s energy strategy.
As demand for electricity skyrockets due to artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and high-capacity data centers, Trump’s plan seeks to remove regulatory bottlenecks, boost domestic reactor construction, and establish the U.S. as a global leader in clean and secure energy. The orders direct the DOE to expedite advanced reactor designs, set an 18-month deadline for project reviews, and initiate a pilot to build three experimental reactors by July 4, 2026.
In a ceremonial Oval Office signing flanked by energy executives, Trump declared, “Nuclear is back—stronger, faster, and cleaner.” He emphasized that the move would restore American leadership in innovation and energy reliability. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who now heads the newly formed Energy Dominance Council, said, “What we do in the next five years will determine our strength for the next 50.”
Burgum and others blamed decades of regulatory inertia at the NRC for hampering technological progress. The restructured approach keeps the NRC intact but reduces its authority over licensing timelines, raising concerns among safety advocates.
Jacob DeWitte, CEO of nuclear startup Oklo, illustrated nuclear’s efficiency by holding up a golf ball to Trump, symbolizing the amount of uranium needed to power a person’s entire life. “Very exciting indeed,” Trump remarked, calling nuclear energy “clean, powerful, and essential.”
Despite the optimism, industry experts remain cautious. The U.S. currently operates 94 reactors, generating about 19% of national electricity. Only two new reactors have been completed in the past 50 years—both over budget and behind schedule. Meanwhile, fossil fuels still supply about 60% of electricity, and renewables contribute 21%, according to the Energy Information Administration.
Critics warned the orders could compromise public safety by minimizing independent oversight. Edwin Lyman of the Union of Concerned Scientists said weakening the NRC threatens the safeguards critical to reactor operation. Former NRC Chair Gregory Jaczko called the orders “a guillotine for U.S. nuclear safety,” accusing the administration of prioritizing speed over security.
Nonetheless, international competition has added urgency. Canada has begun construction on small modular reactors (SMRs), while Russia and China continue rapid nuclear expansion. Isaiah Taylor, CEO of Valar Atomics, welcomed the DOE-led model, saying, “We’ve fallen behind. This is our chance to catch up.”
The NRC is currently reviewing several SMR applications, with projected operational dates in the early 2030s. Tori Shivanandan, COO of Radiant Nuclear, described the executive orders as “a turning point” that could finally unlock nuclear power’s untapped potential in the U.S.
Whether Trump’s nuclear revolution succeeds remains to be seen, but with regulatory power now shifted and deadlines in place, America’s energy future may be on the brink of a new atomic age.