President Donald Trump signed new executive orders on Friday aimed at making nuclear energy a bigger part of America's power supply — and fast.
He wants the US to produce four times more nuclear power over the next 25 years, even though experts say that goal will be hard to reach.
To speed things up, Trump gave more power to the US energy secretary. This means some advanced nuclear projects can be approved without going through the independent Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), which has managed nuclear safety for over 50 years.
The reason for the push? The country needs more electricity. Big tech companies and AI data centers are using more power than ever.
According to NY Times, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said what happens in the next five years will shape the next 50 years of the energy industry.
At the White House signing, Trump called nuclear power a "hot industry," saying, "It's time for nuclear, and we're going to do it very big."
The orders also include a plan to get three small nuclear reactors working by July 2026. To help with this, the Defense Production Act will be used to make sure the US has enough uranium — the fuel used in reactors.
BREAKING: Trump to sign EO to boost American Nuclear Power, with easier approvals for new reactors.
— Resist the Mainstream (@ResisttheMS) May 22, 2025
This will be done via the COLD WAR-era Defense Production Act to address concerns of reliance on Russia and China for enriched uranium, nuclear fuel processing, and more. pic.twitter.com/CgQ2dtrBgo
Critics Warn Safety Risks in Trump's Nuclear Overhaul
Another part of the plan is to study whether closed nuclear plants can reopen and whether new reactors can be built on military land.
Still, building nuclear plants in the US hasn't been easy. Only two big reactors have been built in the past 50 years — and they ran way over budget and schedule.
Today, the country's 94 nuclear reactors supply about 19% of US electricity, AP News said.
Critics are worried the new rules could put safety at risk. Edwin Lyman from the Union of Concerned Scientists warned that "the US nuclear industry will fail if safety is not made a priority."
Even so, the orders gave a big boost to the stock market. Companies that mine uranium and build nuclear reactors saw their shares jump. Investors believe nuclear energy will play a key role in meeting the country's rising energy needs.
Isaiah Taylor, CEO of nuclear company Valar Atomics, said too many rules have slowed progress. He's excited that the Energy Department is now being pushed to speed things up.
Tori Shivanandan from Radiant Nuclear called the moment a "watershed" for nuclear power in the US, saying Trump's support could lead to big changes.
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