Trump signs orders to overhaul Nuclear Regulatory Commission, speed reactor deployment

In Washington, DC, on May 23, 2025, President Donald Trump signed executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House. The orders were aimed at revamping the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and expediting the deployment of new nuclear power reactors in the United States.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, an independent agency overseeing the country’s nuclear reactors, will undergo a comprehensive reform as per Trump’s directives. The new rules mandate the commission to make decisions on nuclear reactor licenses within 18 months. Trump emphasized the focus on small, advanced reactors as the future of the industry but expressed support for the construction of large plants as well.

During the signing ceremony, nuclear industry executives, including Constellation CEO Joe Dominguez, were present. The stock market responded positively to the President’s actions, with nuclear stocks rallying on Friday.

The overhaul of the NRC may result in staff changes, but the White House clarified that no commissioners would be replaced. The executive orders aim for a substantial reorganization of the agency without specifying the extent of staff reductions. The NRC faces a heavy workload, reviewing whether mothballed nuclear plants like Palisades and Three Mile Island should resume operations.

The orders also facilitate the construction of nuclear reactors on federal land by the Energy and Defense departments. They create a framework for boosting uranium mining and enhancing domestic uranium enrichment capacity. Additionally, the orders aim to expedite reactor testing at the Department of Energy’s national laboratories.

Investment in nuclear power in the U.S. is on the rise after a period of industry financial struggles. The revival in nuclear energy is being driven by the computer technology sector, which requires electricity for data centers powering artificial intelligence. Major tech companies like Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon are investing in small, advanced reactors to meet the increasing electricity demand.