Announced in June under Executive Order 14301, the program redefines DOE’s testing process by allowing advanced designs to be sited outside national laboratories—opening doors to private financing and faster commercial licensing.
“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 chosen developers represent a cross-section of U.S. nuclear innovation, from microreactors for remote communities to next-generation molten salt and high-temperature gas designs:
Each will be responsible for its own design, construction, operation, and decommissioning costs, while DOE provides oversight and authorization under the Atomic Energy Act.
The program builds on a mature but aging U.S. reactor fleet. The United States currently operates 94 commercial reactors with a combined capacity of about 97 GW, generating nearly 19% of the nation’s electricity, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). U.S. plants maintain an average capacity factor of 92%, among the highest globally.
The Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act and the bipartisan ADVANCE Act (2024) have created tax incentives and regulatory support for advanced reactors, now coupled with the Trump administration’s goal to quadruple U.S. nuclear capacity to around 400 GW by 2050. Current near-term efforts target a 7% capacity increase through plant restarts, uprates, and efficiency improvements—moves that could return more than 2 GW of generation to the grid.
Small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors are emerging as key technologies, offering faster deployment and more flexible siting. U.S. developers are pursuing designs in the 5–300 MW range for industrial, defense, and community power applications, with several already in licensing review.
While nuclear power already provides a significant share of U.S. electricity, the nation faces growing pressure to modernize its fleet, secure fuel supply chains, and compete with China and Russia—both of which are actively deploying new reactors domestically and abroad. The DOE pilot aims to speed technology demonstration and licensing to close that competitive gap.
If successful, the program could position U.S. companies to capture a larger share of the global nuclear market, enhance energy security, and provide a reliable, carbon-free backbone for the grid alongside renewable sources.
