In a significant policy shift, U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a set of executive orders aimed at fast-tracking the development of nuclear energy. The move is designed to address the country’s growing electricity needs, fueled by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence technologies and data centers.
Under the new directives, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has been instructed to streamline its reactor licensing process, reducing approval times from over a decade to just 18 months. The plan also involves collaboration between the Departments of Energy and Defense to construct reactors, particularly on military bases, as part of a broader strategy to ensure energy security.
ALso Read: Trump Acknowledges Pakistan’s Strategic Importance
The executive orders also call for the revival of domestic uranium mining and enrichment, with a focus on deploying advanced small modular reactors (SMRs) that promise quicker and cheaper implementation. However, experts caution that these changes come with risks, particularly if safety regulations are diluted in the rush to build.
While industry leaders have praised the reforms as a necessary boost to U.S. energy infrastructure, critics, including former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, warn that reducing oversight could lead to safety issues and long-term setbacks for the nuclear sector. Environmental concerns and financial hurdles remain major obstacles to nuclear expansion.
