President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders on Friday aimed at launching what he called a “nuclear renaissance” in the U.S.
The orders are designed to make America energy dominant by accelerating nuclear reactor testing, reforming regulations, and strengthening the domestic nuclear industry.
Trump announced the executive actions on Truth Social, emphasizing their role in “ushering in a Nuclear Renaissance” and restoring American leadership in advanced nuclear technology.
One order, “Reforming Nuclear Reactor Testing at the Department of Energy,” seeks to remove federal barriers that have slowed deployment of advanced reactors, aiming to bring new technologies into domestic production quickly.
A second order, “Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission,” directs a substantial overhaul of the NRC, including its structure, personnel, and regulations, to speed up reviews and approvals for new nuclear projects.
The NRC will now have fixed deadlines, including an 18-month limit for licensing new reactors and a 12-month limit for renewals, to ensure timely decisions, per Breitbart News.
A third order, “Reinvigorating the Nuclear Industrial Base,” calls for rapid action to boost uranium mining, secure supply chains, and prepare the workforce for expanded nuclear deployment.
The executive orders also grant the Departments of Energy and Defense authority to build nuclear reactors on federally owned land, supporting national security and powering critical facilities, including AI data centers.
Trump’s administration is targeting a quadrupling of U.S. nuclear capacity to 400 gigawatts by 2050, a goal he says will create tens of thousands of high-paying jobs and ensure reliable, affordable energy for Americans.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who chairs the National Energy Dominance Council, praised the orders, stating they would “turn the clock back on over 50 years of overregulation” and restore America’s energy leadership.
Burgum and other officials highlighted that overregulation had previously “choked” the nuclear industry, and that nuclear power is essential for winning the global AI race, particularly against China.
The orders also invoke the Defense Production Act to ensure the U.S. has sufficient reactor fuel and create a pilot program to place three new experimental reactors online by July 4, 2026.
Trump’s actions follow a February executive order establishing the National Energy Dominance Council to advise on strategies for American energy independence.
The White House says these reforms will help the U.S. compete with hostile foreign powers, improve trade balance, and strengthen relations with allies.
Nuclear energy currently provides about one-fifth of the nation’s electricity, but only a handful of new reactors have been built in recent decades due to regulatory and financial hurdles.
Trump and his administration officials argue that these executive orders will unshackle American innovation, rebuild the nuclear industrial base, and secure a future of energy independence and prosperity.
