On Friday, President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders aimed at advancing nuclear energy development and reforming public-sector science to prioritize transparency and reproducibility.
These actions address concerns raised by some conservatives about the handling of scientific research during the COVID-19 pandemic and seek to bolster the U.S. nuclear energy sector.
Nuclear Energy Initiatives
The executive orders include measures to enhance nuclear research and development within the Department of Energy, accelerate reactor testing at national laboratories, and establish a pilot program for new reactor construction.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright had previously emphasized to Fox News Digital the importance of revitalizing U.S. national labs to support nuclear innovation. One order specifically promotes new reactor construction on public lands to provide reliable power for critical defense facilities and AI data centers, as noted by a senior White House official.
Another order reforms the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), mandating that it process reactor license applications within 18 months.
The White House highlighted that only two new nuclear reactors have entered commercial operation since the Carter administration, citing a risk-averse regulatory culture that requires emissions to be below naturally occurring radiation levels.
Additional orders aim to increase U.S. nuclear energy capacity from 100 gigawatts to 400 gigawatts over the next 25 years and to strengthen domestic uranium mining and enrichment.
A senior White House official stated, “That means America will start mining and enriching uranium and expanding domestic uranium conversion and enrichment capacity.”
The orders also leverage the Defense Production Act to secure agreements with domestic nuclear energy companies for enriched uranium procurement and to address the management of spent nuclear fuel.
The White House emphasized nuclear energy’s role, stating, “is necessary to power the next generation technologies that secure our global industrial, digital, and economic dominance, achieve energy independence, and protect our national security.”
Restoring Trust in Public-Sector Science
A separate executive order focuses on reinforcing “gold standard science” in federal research, defined as reproducible, transparent, falsifiable, and subject to peer review. The order aims to ensure scientists are not discouraged from pursuing findings that challenge prevailing narratives.
A senior White House official cited a decline in “disruptive research,” instances of fraud and misconduct, and challenges in reproducing scientific methods as reasons for the reform.
The official also pointed to policy responses during the COVID-19 pandemic and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives as factors that undermined public trust in government scientists.
The order references the Biden administration’s inclusion of edits from teachers’ unions in school-reopening guidance, which it claims prioritized political considerations over scientific evidence.
Criticism of former NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci for inconsistent messaging during the pandemic was also noted as a factor in diminishing trust in federal health authorities.
