Trump's Small Modular Reactor Pilot Program

planned

President Trump has mandated the Department of Energy (DOE) to authorize and develop three pilot small modular reactors (SMRs) to accelerate nuclear power deployment and meet rising demand from AI. The program aims for the pilot reactors to achieve criticality by July 4, 2026, with design, licensing, and testing to be completed within a year. The Department of Defense (DOD) is also directed to commission its own pilot reactor within three years. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is tasked with expediting license approvals within 18 months and establishing a high-volume licensing process for micro and modular reactors. The DOE and DOD will seek private funding for nuclear fuel recycling, reprocessing, and fabrication capabilities. The government aims to increase U.S. nuclear capacity from about 100 GW to 400 GW by 2050.