Trump Administration Fast-Tracks Nuclear Permits, Seeks Advanced Reactor Deployment

President Trump has taken significant steps to advance nuclear energy in the United States, including firing a Nuclear Regulatory Commission commissioner to align the agency more closely with his agenda and issuing executive orders aimed at revitalizing the nuclear sector with a focus on energy dominance and rapid deployment. His administration has prioritized fast-tracking permits for advanced and small modular reactors, shifting regulatory authority to the Energy Secretary, and identifying nuclear technologies as critical national security assets, particularly for powering AI data centers and military bases. While these moves promise to accelerate nuclear innovation and infrastructure development, critics highlight concerns about safety, financing, and overreliance on deregulation. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Shelley Moore Capito has supported easing carbon emission standards and speeding up nuclear licensing to meet rising energy demands from AI and cloud computing. Simultaneously, Trump allies are reportedly using misinformation to influence federal agencies like the Social Security Administration, and lawmakers are scrutinizing efforts to compile extensive personal data via companies like Palantir under the administration. Meanwhile, private sector efforts, such as Valar Atomics’ plan to deploy thousands of small modular reactors globally, align with the broader push toward a nuclear energy resurgence aimed at creating an era of energy abundance.