Chicago – January 28, 2026
The Trump administration has reportedly introduced major revisions to nuclear safety directives and distributed the updated guidance directly to the nuclear companies it regulatesbwithout releasing the new rules to the public.
According to the report, the updated directives were created to fast-track the development and deployment of a new generation of nuclear reactor designs, which are being promoted as part of America’s evolving energy and technology strategy.
The sweeping overhaul was carried out during the fall and winter at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The DOE is currently leading a major initiative aimed at building at least three experimental commercial nuclear reactors by July 4 of this year, a deadline that signals how urgent the administration considers the program.
The revised policies involve departmental orders, which function as key operational requirements for nuclear projects. These orders play a critical role in shaping how nuclear reactors are planned, built, and managed.
