Trump Signs Orders to Accelerate US Nuclear Power Development

President Donald Trump signed four executive orders aimed at revitalizing the U.S. nuclear power industry by accelerating the development and deployment of nuclear reactors. Key measures include directing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to streamline and expedite reactor licensing processes from up to a decade to 18 months, and granting the Energy and Defense departments authority to site reactors on federal lands, including military bases, potentially bypassing NRC oversight. The orders also focus on boosting domestic uranium production and overhauling the nuclear fuel supply chain. Officials, including Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, framed these actions as reversing over 50 years of regulatory stagnation to enable an American nuclear renaissance that supports emerging electricity demands from data centers and artificial intelligence. However, experts remain skeptical about the feasibility of quadrupling nuclear power production within 25 years, and concerns have been raised about potential safety and security risks due to the reduced independence of regulatory oversight. The initiative reflects a strategic push to secure U.S. energy dominance and innovation in nuclear technologies.