Utilization of Nuclear Power in U.S. Data Centers and National Security Agenda
The Trump administration has unveiled a strategy to deploy advanced nuclear technologies at strategic military sites by 2028, with the primary goal of enhancing national security and energy resilience. This strategy, outlined in an executive order, tasks the Department of Defense (DoD) to collaborate closely with the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to streamline the development, testing, and approval processes for these advanced reactors.
To expedite the process, the administration is taking several approaches. These include creating an expedited pathway within the NRC for approving safely tested advanced reactors, setting stringent deadlines and capped fees for NRC reviews, and developing alternative licensing that leverages the DoD and DOE to bypass slower civilian regulatory routes.
The strategy also aims to expand domestic nuclear fuel infrastructure, including specialized fuels needed for advanced reactors, to reduce dependence on foreign fuel. The long-term goal is to quadruple U.S. nuclear capacity to 400 gigawatts by 2050, with a focus on deploying advanced and modular reactors at both civilian and military sites.
The strategy is designed to boost military energy resilience by providing reliable, off-grid nuclear power and to create a sustained market and regulatory environment for broader commercial adoption. The approach leverages the DoD’s capacity to de-risk and procure new technologies rapidly, emulating historical successes such as naval reactors that transitioned innovations to civilian nuclear power.
In addition, the administration is revising radiation safety models, licensing procedures, and environmental assessments under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles and align nuclear regulation more closely with practical, scientifically validated risk assessments. The strategy also aims to preempt local opposition by focusing deployment explicitly on federally owned, defense-oriented lands, thereby accelerating implementation timelines and demonstrating the reliability and safety of modern nuclear technologies in real-world operational scenarios.
The strategy seeks to counter the growing influence of Russian and Chinese nuclear exports and aims to position the United States as a global leader in secure, advanced nuclear energy deployment. A new special presidential envoy has been appointed to focus on nuclear energy exports, while another envoy is tasked with actively pursuing international agreements for global market access of U.S. nuclear technologies.
Nine military installations, spanning Army, Air Force, Space Force, and Navy bases, have been identified as immediate candidates for nuclear technology deployment, prioritizing locations in geopolitically sensitive regions. The government plans to halt legacy dilute-and-dispose plutonium programs in favor of recycling surplus plutonium into usable reactor fuel, bolstering a sustainable, domestic nuclear fuel cycle.
The Defense Department is instructed to address logistical and regulatory barriers swiftly, clearing the path for immediate installation and operational readiness. The executive orders establish new frameworks modeled after successful federal-private partnerships, such as NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program, to reduce bureaucratic delays in nuclear infrastructure projects.
In summary, the Trump administration's strategy for nuclear energy deployment includes a policy directive for the rapid deployment of small modular reactors, microreactors, and next-generation nuclear technologies at strategic military sites. The strategy is designed to accelerate deployment timelines, reduce bureaucratic hindrances, and position the United States as a global leader in secure, advanced nuclear energy.
- The federal workforce, particularly the Departments of Defense and Energy, are integral to the reimagined workforce, as they collaborate closely to expedite the development and approval of advanced nuclear technologies.
- The strategy aims to foster a sustained market and regulatory environment for the industry, specifically finance, technology, and energy, by demonstrating modern nuclear technologies' reliability and safety in real-world scenarios at military sites.
- The administration's efforts to position the United States as a global leader in advanced nuclear energy extend beyond military sites, with a special presidential envoy focusing on nuclear energy exports to various global markets.
