Trump Nuclear Power Update as New Order May Bring Back Cold War-Era Act

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A Cold War-era statute could soon return to the forefront of American energy policy, as President Donald Trump prepares to sign a series of executive orders—possibly as soon as Friday—designed to jumpstart the domestic nuclear energy industry.

Four sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that the forthcoming orders aim to simplify the regulatory process for approving new nuclear reactors and to strengthen nuclear fuel supply chains amid mounting concerns over U.S. dependence on foreign suppliers.

Facing the first significant increase in U.S. power demand in two decades—driven largely by the explosion of artificial intelligence technologies and the data centers powering them—Trump declared a national energy emergency on his first day back in office. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has likened the effort to a “Manhattan Project 2,” invoking the scale and urgency of the U.S. government’s World War II-era nuclear weapons program.

A draft summary of the executive orders reviewed by Reuters indicates Trump will invoke the Defense Production Act, originally enacted during the Cold War, to declare a national emergency over reliance on Russia and China for enriched uranium, nuclear fuel processing, and components for advanced reactors. The orders also direct key federal agencies to identify lands and facilities suitable for nuclear energy development, while streamlining the permitting and construction process.

In addition, the Energy and Defense Departments are instructed to accelerate deployment strategies, while the Energy Department is encouraged to use loan guarantees and direct financing to support reactor construction. Although Trump’s first administration utilized the Loan Programs Office (LPO) for a major nuclear project in Georgia, the office now oversees hundreds of billions of dollars in funding—thanks to legislation passed during former President Joe Biden’s tenure. However, the LPO has since suffered major staff reductions under Trump’s second term.

The exact language of the nuclear power executive order is still under review and subject to change.

Representatives from leading energy stakeholders—including the Nuclear Energy Institute and Constellation, the utility with the largest U.S. nuclear fleet—have reportedly been invited to a signing ceremony scheduled for Friday afternoon. Neither organization responded to Reuters for requests for comment.

Despite the United States’ legacy as the first nation to develop nuclear power and its continued lead in installed capacity, the industry’s fastest growth is currently occurring in China. Nuclear energy remains politically unique, appealing to Democrats for its low carbon emissions and to Republicans for its reliability compared to intermittent renewable sources like wind and solar. However, the long-standing issue of radioactive waste disposal remains unresolved, with no permanent U.S. repository currently in place.