The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a series of initiatives aimed at expanding nuclear power in the United States, as part of President Trump’s efforts to make energy more affordable and reliable. The administration says it is moving away from previous policies that it claims increased energy costs and reduced grid reliability.
According to the administration, electricity prices rose by 30% under the Biden administration, which was a rate 13 times faster than during the prior seven years. The government also projects that over 100 gigawatts (GW) of firm, reliable power were expected to retire by 2030, while only 22 GW were projected to be added to the grid. Officials state that without recent policy changes, blackouts could have increased significantly by 2030.
The DOE states its commitment to supporting what it calls “America’s next nuclear renaissance,” with plans to increase American nuclear energy capacity from about 100 GW in 2024 to 400 GW by 2050. The department highlights that investments in new nuclear infrastructure are intended not only for current energy needs but are expected to serve as long-term assets.
The Energy Dominance Financing Program (EDF), established under the Working Families Tax Cut, will continue supporting development of domestic nuclear projects.
Recent actions taken by the DOE include a $2.7 billion investment announced in January 2026 for strengthening domestic uranium enrichment capabilities. In December 2025, $800 million was awarded to TVA and Holtec for advancing small modular reactor deployment. On November 18, 2025, a $1 billion loan was finalized with Constellation for restarting the Crane Clean Energy Center on the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania.
Other steps include strategic partnerships with companies such as Cameco Corporation and Brookfield Asset Management for developing Westinghouse’s reactor technologies; selection of four companies for advanced fuel pilot projects; conditional commitments for providing high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) to U.S. companies; and initial selections for a Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program.
President Trump also issued executive orders in May 2025 aimed at deploying advanced reactor technologies for national security, reforming regulatory oversight and testing processes, and reinvigorating the nuclear industrial base.
Secretary Wright issued his first Secretarial Order in February 2025 prioritizing commercial nuclear power development within the United States.
“The Department of Energy (DOE) is fully committed to unleashing America’s next nuclear renaissance, from reinvigorating domestic supply chains to delivering gigawatts of new reactors,” according to an official statement from DOE. “Building out the next generation of American nuclear is an investment in our growing energy needs today, and once built, will become another 80-year asset for future generations.”
Thanks to these measures and ongoing programs such as EDF, federal officials say they plan continued support for both infrastructure expansion and innovation across America’s nuclear sector.
