Trump signs executive orders to expand and ease regulations on nuclear energy production

President Donald Trump on Friday signed four executive orders aimed at easing regulations on and expanding the production of nuclear energy.

The executive orders aim to reform nuclear energy research at the Department of Energy, clear a path to allow the Energy Department to build nuclear reactors on federally-owned land, overhaul the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and expand uranium mining and enrichment in the U.S, a senior administration official told reporters ahead of the signing.

The official said that the executive order that will allow nuclear reactors to be built on federal land was aimed in part at helping address growing electricity demand due to AI technology, telling reporters that the order, “allows for safe and reliable nuclear energy to power and operate critical defense facilities and AI data centers.”