Eleven advanced nuclear reactor projects have been chosen for President Donald Trump’s accelerated testing initiative, the Department of Energy announced Tuesday, with officials targeting operational status for at least three reactors by July 4, 2026.
The initiative is the Trump administration’s effort to accelerate nuclear energy development and restore US leadership in the sector. The program marks a significant shift by allowing companies to test reactor designs at sites outside national laboratories using a streamlined DOE authorization process.
“President Trump’s Reactor Pilot Program is a call to action,” said Deputy Secretary of Energy James P. Danly. “These companies aim to all safely achieve criticality by Independence Day, and DOE will do everything we can to support their efforts.”
The program stems from Executive Order 14301, signed May 23, which reformed reactor testing procedures at the Department of Energy. The order cited decades of regulatory barriers that have stalled US nuclear innovation, noting that the Idaho National Laboratory concluded construction of new reactors in the 1970s despite America’s early leadership in civilian nuclear power.
Companies selected for the program will pursue DOE authorization under the Atomic Energy Act, providing a pathway to private funding and expedited commercial licensing. Applications opened June 18, following the announcement of the program, with initial submissions closing July 21. The program accepts applications on a rolling basis.
The 11 selected projects come from 10 companies: Aalo Atomics Inc., Antares Nuclear Inc., Atomic Alchemy Inc., Deep Fission Inc., Last Energy Inc., Oklo Inc. (two projects), Natura Resources LLC, Radiant Industries Inc., Terrestrial Energy Inc., and Valar Atomics Inc.
The participating companies will fund all aspects of their reactor projects, from initial design through eventual decommissioning. Applicants must submit comprehensive proposals and meet a two-year operational timeline following approval. The Energy Department said the diversity of applications demonstrates the innovation within American reactor development.
The program is part of the Trump administration’s nuclear energy strategy, which includes reforms to environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act and leverages DOE’s authority under the Atomic Energy Act to authorize reactors “under contract with and for the account of” the Department.
Read: Trump Administration Wants The US To Be ‘The Leader In Nuclear Energy’
The initiative follows the administration’s declaration of a national energy emergency and represents an effort to position the United States as a global leader in advanced nuclear technology.
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