Trump Signs Four Executive Orders to Quadruple US Nuclear Capacity to 400 GW by 2050

President Trump signed four executive orders on May 23, 2025, targeting a quadrupling of US nuclear energy capacity from approximately 100 gigawatts to 400 gigawatts by 2050. The orders directed reforms to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to streamline reactor licensing, established a DOE pilot program to build three advanced reactors outside national laboratories with a criticality target of July 4, 2026, and set a goal of 10 large reactors with complete designs under construction by 2030. A fourth order directed DOD to deploy nuclear reactors for national security applications.