Trump Energy Department Loosens Rules On Nuclear Safety
DOE nuclear safety rules face major revisions for experimental reactors on federal property, raising questions about oversight and environmental prote
Matilda
Trump Energy Department Loosens Rules On Nuclear Safety
What Changed in DOE's Nuclear Safety Framework? The Department of Energy has implemented sweeping revisions to its nuclear safety directives governing experimental reactors built on federal property, eliminating approximately one-third of existing requirements. These changes specifically target the DOE's Reactor Pilot Program—a fast-track initiative launched in mid-2025 aiming to bring at least three demonstration reactors to criticality within an accelerated timeline. Crucially, these relaxed standards apply only to reactors constructed on DOE-managed sites like national laboratories; commercial nuclear facilities elsewhere remain under strict Nuclear Regulatory Commission oversight with unchanged safety protocols. Credit: Matt Champlin / Getty Images The modifications transform previously mandatory environmental protections into optional guidelines, including measures designed to prevent groundwater contamination near reactor sites. Radiation exposure thresholds for workers hav…
