The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has outlined a series of recent actions aimed at expanding the nation’s nuclear power capacity, aligning with President Trump’s stated goal to increase American nuclear energy from about 100 gigawatts (GW) in 2024 to 400 GW by 2050.
According to the DOE, the administration is working to reverse previous policies that it claims made energy more expensive and less reliable. The department attributes a significant rise in electricity prices under the Biden administration, stating: “Under the Biden administration, electricity prices increased by 30%—13 times faster than the previous seven years.” The DOE also projects that over 100 GW of firm reliable power were set to retire by 2030, while only 22 GW were expected to be added. It further warns that without changes in policy following President Trump’s election, blackouts could have increased substantially by 2030.
The DOE emphasizes its commitment to “unleashing America’s next nuclear renaissance,” which includes revitalizing domestic supply chains and delivering new reactors. It highlights investments such as the Energy Dominance Financing Program (EDF), created under the Working Families Tax Cut, which supports nuclear project development.
Recent DOE initiatives include a $2.7 billion investment announced in January 2026 for strengthening domestic enrichment capabilities and supporting low-enriched uranium production. In December 2025, $800 million was awarded to TVA and Holtec for advancing small modular reactor deployment. On November 18, 2025, DOE closed on a $1 billion loan for Constellation’s Crane Clean Energy Center Restart project in Pennsylvania.
Other efforts involve partnerships with companies like Cameco Corporation and Brookfield Asset Management to develop Westinghouse nuclear technologies both domestically and internationally. The department has also selected several companies for pilot projects focused on advanced nuclear fuel lines and provided conditional commitments for high-assay low-enriched uranium supply.
In May 2025, President Trump issued four executive orders targeting various aspects of the nuclear industry: deploying advanced reactor technologies for national security; reforming the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; changing reactor testing protocols at DOE; and reinvigorating the industrial base.
Secretary Wright underscored these priorities with his first Secretarial Order in February 2025 focusing on commercial nuclear power expansion. The department maintains that building out next-generation American nuclear infrastructure will address current energy needs while serving as an asset for future generations.
“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.
