Trump administration secretly rewrites nuclear safety rules to speed reactor construction

NPR reported on January 28, 2026 that the Department of Energy had secretly rewritten internal safety rules governing experimental nuclear reactors and shared the revised standards with ten private companies in a pilot program, without public notice. The rewritten orders covered safety systems, environmental protections, site security, and accident investigations. The changes were driven by an executive order requiring DOE to approve at least three new reactors by July 4, 2026, and included proposals to strip some worker respiratory and welding safety standards to accelerate construction.