President Donald Trump has issued a series of executive orders proposing a comprehensive overhaul of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), a 50-year-old agency responsible for ensuring the safety and compliance of nuclear reactors across the nation. According to a White House press release, the reform measures aim to drastically reduce bureaucratic delays in approving new nuclear power projects, with the NRC required to issue licenses for reactors within 18 months. The initiative marks the first major restructuring of the agency since its establishment, with the goal of streamlining processes and modernizing regulations to align with current industry advancements and national energy needs.
Trump, in a statement, emphasized the importance of embracing both advanced small modular reactors and large-scale nuclear power plants as part of the nation’s energy strategy. He pointed out that the administration is committed to expanding nuclear energy capabilities, including the development of ‘the very, very big, the biggest’ plants. This includes a focus on nuclear reactors that can support defense facilities and AI data centers, which are critical components of the U.S. national security infrastructure.
The reforms would involve a significant reorganization of the N.RC, with potential changes in staffing and roles. While the existing five commissioners will remain in their positions, the agency is expected to undergo a reorganization that could lead to changes in its operational structure. The White House has stated that there may be a reduction in staff, though no definitive numbers have been provided. This restructuring comes at a time when the NRC is already facing a heavy workload, including the review of plans to restart two mothballed plants at Palisades in Michigan and Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania.
Additionally, the executive orders include proposals to create a regulatory framework for the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense to build nuclear reactors on federal land. These reactors would be constructed under the oversight of these departments, which have distinct authorities to manage such projects for national security purposes. The reforms also aim to boost domestic uranium mining and expand uranium enrichment capacity within the United States, which the administration argues would enhance energy independence and support the growth of the nuclear industry.
Industry experts have mixed reactions to the reforms, with many acknowledging the importance of reducing regulatory burdens to accelerate the development of nuclear energy. However, some have raised concerns about the potential for oversight to be compromised if the NRC’s regulatory process is significantly expedited. The White House has not provided a timeline for the implementation of these changes, but the proposed reforms could have significant implications for the U.S. nuclear industry, influencing the market for nuclear-related stocks and impacting the broader energy sector.