Executive Order 14301

Reforming Nuclear Reactor Testing at the Department of Energy

Signed May 23, 2025, printed at 90 FR 22591. 7 sections of substance, 1,400 words.

In plain English

This order speeds up reactor tests at the Energy Department. It aims to try new designs sooner.

Sec. 1. Purpose

The United States led the development of civilian nuclear power through the Atomic Energy Commission, the National Reactor Testing Station (now known as Idaho National Laboratory), and several other Federal Government entities. This work produced safe and abundant energy. But in the decades since, commercial deployment of new nuclear technologies has all but stopped. The Idaho National Laboratory has principal responsibility for constructing and testing new reactor designs; it concluded construction of new reactors in the 1970s. Our proud history of innovation has succumbed to overregulated complacency. As I stated in Executive Order 14156 of January 20, 2025 (Declaring a National Energy Emergency), the United States needs a reliable, diversified, and affordable supply of energy to drive development of advanced technologies, manufacturing, transportation, agriculture, and defense

In plain English

This sets out the case the order makes. It says federal labs led early nuclear work. It says one lab built test reactors until the 1970s. It says commercial deployment then stopped. It calls the cause overregulated complacency. It ties this to the energy emergency of January 2025.

Sec. 2. Definitions

For purposes of this order: (a) The term ``advanced reactor'' has the same meaning as the term ``advanced nuclear reactor'' in 42 U.S.C. 16271(b)(1). (b) The term ``Department'' means the Department of Energy. (c) The term ``qualified test reactor'' means an advanced reactor that satisfies thresholds established by the Department sufficient to demonstrate that, from the perspective of technical development and financial backing, the reactor may feasibly be operational within 2 years from the date a substantially complete application is submitted. (d) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Energy.

In plain English

This defines four terms. Advanced reactor takes its meaning from federal law. Department means the Energy Department. Secretary means its head. A qualified test reactor is one that could run in two years. That test covers both the technology and the money behind it.

Sec. 3. Findings

With some rare and arguable exceptions, no advanced reactors have yet been deployed in America. I find that design, construction, operation, and disposition of such reactors under the auspices of the Department--and not to produce commercial electric power--would be for research [[Page 22592]] purposes, rather than ``for the purpose of demonstrating the suitability for commercial application of . . . a reactor'' within the meaning of 42 U.S.C. 5842. The purpose of testing these reactors at this stage in America's industrial evolution is to establish fundamental technological viability. Thus, at least for the foreseeable future, advanced reactors over which the Department exercises sufficient control and that do not produce commercial electric power, including those ``under contract with and for the account of the [Department],'' 42 U.S.C. 2140(a)(2), fall within the jurisdiction of the

In plain English

This makes a finding. It says almost no advanced reactors have been built here. It says test reactors at Energy count as research. They do not produce power for sale. So a commercial licensing law does not apply. They fall under the Energy Department instead.

Sec. 4. Reforming the National Laboratory Process for Reactor Testing

(a) Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary shall issue guidance regarding what counts as a qualified test reactor for purposes of this order. (b) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary shall take appropriate action to revise the regulations, guidance, and procedures and practices of the Department, the National Laboratories, and any other entity under the Department's jurisdiction to significantly expedite the review, approval, and deployment of advanced reactors under the Department's jurisdiction. The Secretary shall ensure that the Department's expedited procedures enable qualified test reactors to be safely operational at Department-owned or Department-controlled facilities within 2 years following the submission of a substantially complete application. (c) Upon finding that an applicant has submitted a substantially complete application for a

In plain English

This is about the lab process. Within 60 days guidance must define a test reactor. Within 90 days rules must be revised. That covers the labs and other Energy bodies. The aim is far faster review and approval. A qualified reactor should run within two years of a full application.

Sec. 5. Establishing a Pilot Program Outside the National Laboratories

(a) The Secretary shall create a pilot program for reactor construction and operation outside the National Laboratories, pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act's authorization of reactors under the Department's sufficient control, including reactors ``under contract with and for the account of'' the Department, in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 2140. The Secretary shall approve at least three reactors pursuant to this pilot program with the goal of achieving criticality in each of the three reactors by July 4, 2026. (b) Upon approval of an application for this pilot program, the Secretary shall assign a team to provide assistance to the applicant as specified in subsection 4(c) of this order.

In plain English

This starts a pilot outside the labs. An atomic law allows reactors under Energy control. At least three must be approved. The goal is to start all three by July 4, 2026. Each approved applicant gets a support team. That team helps them through the process.

Sec. 6. Streamlining Environmental Reviews

(a) The Secretary shall, in consultation with the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality, take action to reform the Department's rules governing compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) no later than June 30, 2025, consistent with the policies articulated in sections 2 and 5 of Executive Order 14154 of January 20, 2025 (Unleashing American Energy), and with applicable law. (b) The Secretary shall, consistent with applicable law, use all available authorities to eliminate or expedite the Department's environmental reviews for authorizations, permits, approvals, leases, and any other activity requested by an applicant or potential applicant. In addition to the measures outlined in section 7 of the Executive Order of May 23, 2025 (Deploying Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technologies for National Security), such measures shall include determining which Department

In plain English

This is about green reviews. Energy must reform its own rules by June 30, 2025. A White House council advises it. It must use every power to cut or speed those reviews. That covers permits, leases and approvals. Steps from another 2025 order apply too.

Sec. 7. Implementation

The Secretary shall work with the DOGE Team Lead at the Department, as defined in Executive Order 14158 of January 20, 2025 (Establishing and Implementing the President's ``Department of Government Efficiency''), with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and with the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to implement this order.

In plain English

This says who helps. The energy secretary must work with a named team lead. A January 2025 order set up that team. It works on government efficiency. The budget office also takes part. So does the science office. Together they carry the order out.

Sec. 8. General Provisions

Every order carries this. It is not what the order does.

(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. (d) The Department of Energy shall provide funding for publication of this order in the Federal Register. <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT> (Presidential Sig.) THE WHITE HOUSE, May 23,

In plain English

This is the closing clause that nearly every order carries. It says the order does not change what the law already allows. It also says no one can sue to enforce it.

How this order is quoted

Each section is quoted as the order prints it, under its own number and heading. Executive orders are United States government works and are not under copyright. Long sections are cut at a sentence and the whole order is a click away.