By the authority granted to me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby declare:
Section 1. Purpose.
The United States was once at the forefront of nuclear energy innovation during a tumultuous period. Today, we confront new dilemmas, such as the global competition in artificial intelligence, the pressing demand for energy independence, and the necessity for uninterrupted power supplies crucial to our national security. It took the U.S. nearly four decades to match the nuclear capacity that another developed nation achieved in just ten years. Meanwhile, American advancements in reactor designs have dwindled, with a staggering 87% of new nuclear reactors worldwide since 2017 utilizing designs from just two foreign countries. Compounding this issue, our domestic nuclear fuel cycle infrastructure has significantly deteriorated, leaving us overly reliant on foreign uranium and enrichment services. These trends are unsustainable.
Immediate and decisive measures are essential to revitalize America’s nuclear energy sector, thereby bolstering our national and economic security. This includes enhancing fuel availability and production, securing domestic nuclear supply chains, streamlining the licensing of advanced reactors, and preparing our workforce to reclaim America’s energy leadership while paving the way for a more secure and independent energy future.
Section 2. Policy.
It is the policy of the United States to expedite and fully promote the production and operation of nuclear energy. Our aim is to ensure affordable, reliable, safe, and secure energy for the American populace, to power advanced nuclear reactor technologies, as defined in 42 U.S.C. 16271(b)(1)(A), and to build robust supply chains that secure our industrial and digital preeminence. By achieving energy independence, safeguarding our national security, and enhancing the efficiency of nuclear fuel through recycling and reprocessing, we can revive the commercial sector.
Section 3. Strengthening the Domestic Nuclear Fuel Cycle.
(a) Within 240 days of this order, the Secretary of Energy, in collaboration with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), is tasked with preparing and submitting a report to the President via the Chair of the National Energy Dominance Council and the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. This report will include:
- (i) A recommended national policy for managing spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste, alongside the development of advanced fuel cycle capabilities for a safe, secure, and sustainable long-term fuel cycle;
- (ii) A review of relevant statutory authorities to identify necessary legislative changes to support the recommended national policy;
- (iii) An evaluation of spent nuclear fuel reprocessing and recycling from Department of Defense and Department of Energy reactors, including necessary improvements to these processes;
- (iv) An analysis of legal, budgetary, and policy considerations for the efficient transfer of spent nuclear fuel to a government-owned, privately operated reprocessing facility;
- (v) Recommendations for the effective use of recovered uranium, plutonium, and other products through recycling and reprocessing;
- (vi) Recommendations for the safe disposal of waste generated by recycling or reprocessing through a permanent disposal pathway;
- (vii) A recommended process for evaluating nuclear waste materials for isotopes valuable to national security or medical, industrial, and scientific sectors prior to disposal;
- (viii) A reassessment of historical and current nuclear facilities earmarked for decommissioning that might still hold valuable materials or capabilities for national security;
- (ix) A program to develop safe and environmentally sound methods for transporting used and unused advanced nuclear fuels domestically and internationally, including any necessary legislative support.
(b) Within 120 days of this order, the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Director of OMB, shall develop a plan to expand domestic uranium conversion capacity and enrichment capabilities to meet projected civilian and defense reactor needs for low enriched uranium (LEU), high enriched uranium (HEU), and high assay, low enriched uranium (HALEU).
(c) The Secretary of Energy shall suspend the surplus plutonium dilute and dispose program, except for legal obligations to South Carolina, and establish a new program to process surplus plutonium for industry use in advanced nuclear fuel fabrication.
(d) Within 90 days of this order, the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall update uranium management policies to align with this order’s objectives and the Nuclear Fuel Security Act, prioritizing contracts for developing fuel fabrication facilities capable of supplying fuel to test reactors or pilot programs within three years.
(e) Within 30 days of this order, the Secretary of Energy, in coordination with the Attorney General and the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, shall initiate voluntary agreements with domestic nuclear energy companies under the authority of the Defense Production Act. Priority should be given to companies that have achieved significant milestones in safety design, financing, or technology capability for procuring LEU and HALEU.
(f) The Secretary of Energy, together with the Attorney General and the FTC Chairman, shall undertake necessary actions to form these agreements and consult with industry to enhance spent nuclear fuel management, including recycling and reprocessing capabilities.
Section 4. Funding for Restart, Completion, Uprate, or Construction of Nuclear Plants.
(a) To accelerate new nuclear capacity, the Department of Energy will prioritize collaboration with the nuclear energy sector to enable 5 gigawatts of power uprates in existing reactors and have 10 new large reactors under construction by 2030. The Secretary of Energy shall facilitate resources for restarting closed nuclear plants, increasing output from operating reactors, completing previously halted constructions, and enhancing the nuclear fuel supply chain.
(b) The Secretary of Energy will also coordinate with the Secretary of Defense to explore the feasibility of repurposing closed nuclear plants as energy hubs for military microgrid support, particularly in areas with power resilience issues.
(c) Within 180 days, the Secretary of Energy, in collaboration with the Small Business Administration, shall prioritize funding for advanced nuclear technologies through grants and loans, favoring companies with strong design maturity, financial backing, and potential for rapid deployment.
Section 5. Expanding the Nuclear Energy Workforce.
(a) Careers in nuclear engineering and related fields will be emphasized as priority areas in accordance with Executive Order 14278, aimed at preparing Americans for high-paying skilled jobs.
(b) Within 120 days, the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Education shall work to boost participation in nuclear energy-related Registered Apprenticeships and Career and Technical Education programs by engaging industry organizations to analyze apprenticeship gaps and facilitate their development.
- (i) Encouraging states to utilize Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funding to develop nuclear skills and support work-based learning opportunities;
- (ii) Establishing nuclear engineering and energy-related training as grant priorities in relevant discretionary programs.
(c) All executive departments providing educational grants shall, where appropriate, prioritize investments in nuclear engineering and related careers within 120 days.
(d) Within the same timeframe, the Secretary of Energy shall enhance access to research and development infrastructure for students and Department of Defense personnel involved in nuclear energy studies.
Section 6. Other Provisions.
This order shall not impair OMB functions related to procurement actions. It will be executed in accordance with budgetary, legislative, and procurement processes, ensuring compliance with applicable legal requirements and nonproliferation obligations.
Section 7. General Provisions.
(a) Nothing in this order shall affect the authority granted by law to executive departments or the functions of the OMB Director.
(b) This order will be implemented consistent with applicable law and the availability of appropriations.
(c) It is not intended to create enforceable rights or benefits by any party against the United States or its entities.
(d) The Department of Energy shall ensure this order is published in the Federal Register.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,
May 23, 2025.
