The Trump administration has expressed willingness to promote domestic nuclear energy production, although several industry experts say many obstacles must be cleared first. [emphasis, links added]
After returning to the White House, President Donald Trump immediately signed an executive order, “American Energy,” aimed at strengthening domestic fossil fuel production, which the United States relies primarily on and reduces “inappropriate burden” on the nuclear energy sector.
While the move shows growing concerns about industry development, several policy experts told the Daily Call News Foundation that many obstacles must be addressed before nuclear power becomes the primary energy source in the United States
“In this country, it’s become so difficult that it’s almost impossible to build a nuclear power plant.” JD Foster, former chief economist at the Office of Management and Budget, usually attends meetings on nuclear regulatory policies, he told DCNF.
“Nuclear regulators are one of the slowest entities in the universe when evaluating new technologies and nuclear power.”
Foster and others in the nuclear energy field have pointed out several hurdles to the industry, including a long and strict licensing process, a very professional workforce, nuclear waste management, federal regulations, and public fears surrounding radiation.
Although former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama pursue expansion of nuclear technology for their effective and reliable energy production, The United States still relies primarily on fossil fuels.
For example, Biden signed the Bipartisan Pre-Party Act in June 2024, which aims to reduce the cost of nuclear licensing, create new opportunities for old industrial sites to host reactors and allocate other resources to the NRC.
Nevertheless, according to the World Nuclear Association, nearly all of the nuclear power currently produced in the United States is from reactors built between 1967 and 1990.
We have become so difficult that it is almost impossible to build a nuclear power plant…
Trump, who has a long history of supporting nuclear energy development in his first term, said he is willing to explore ways to expand industry innovation.
Less than a month after returning to the office, Trump established the National Energy Steering Committee and took charge of his advisers to inform him of how to carry a small modular reactor (SMR) that can continue to power 300,000 homes online.
Trump's Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright also expressed his hope to increase the development of nuclear energy technology.
“The long-awaited nuclear Renaissance of the United States must be launched during the Trump administration,” Wright said in his first secretary order on February 5.
“As global energy demand continues to grow, the United States must lead the commercialization of affordable and abundant nuclear energy. Therefore, the department will work hard and creatively to enable the rapid deployment and export of next-generation nuclear technologies.”
.@secretarywright: “It's been decades since we've built any meaningful nuclear energy in this country… But President Trump is committed to getting this nuclear Renaissance – which has been discussed for years – we'll see some plants start over. We'll see… We'll see… pic.twitter.com/5GPID58ZBR
— U.S. Department of Energy (@energy) April 2, 2025
“The nuclear will continue.
According to Foster, this envisions that the “nuclear Renaissance” lags behind the “huge” licensing problem.
The length of time required to complete the licensing process varies, and in some cases the NRC application review process takes up to five yearsAccording to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
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