Sat May 24 07:01:47 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article summarizing the information, tailored to the Indian perspective implied by the source:

**The Hindu: Trump Aims to Quadruple US Nuclear Power, Sparks Safety Concerns**

**Washington, May 24, 2025 (IST)** – Former US President Donald Trump has signed executive orders with the ambitious goal of quadrupling domestic nuclear power production within the next 25 years. The move, touted as a way to meet surging energy demands from data centers and AI development, has sparked controversy and raised concerns about safety and regulatory oversight.

The orders grant the US Energy Secretary increased authority to approve advanced reactor designs, effectively reducing the power of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the independent safety agency. This shift towards expedited approval processes has been met with criticism from experts who fear compromised safety standards.

While proponents like Interior Secretary Doug Burgum claim this will help the US win the AI arms race with China, critics argue that the US lacks the infrastructure and capacity to meet such an aggressive target. The US has struggled to bring new reactors online, with recent projects facing significant delays and cost overruns.

The plan also includes a pilot program to bring three experimental reactors online by July 2026 and aims to use the Defense Production Act to ensure adequate uranium fuel supply. While Trump hails nuclear energy as a “hot industry,” others point out the significant risks and unresolved waste disposal issues associated with it.

Opponents, including former NRC chief Gregory Jaczko, have strongly condemned the orders, calling them a “guillotine to the nation’s nuclear safety system.” Concerns have also been raised regarding the potential violation of existing legal frameworks like the Atomic Energy Act.

The article also mentions that some are calling that there may be too much red tape slowing down the development of nuclear reactors in the US, while Russia and China are moving ahead more quickly.

While the US seeks to accelerate its nuclear program, other countries, including Canada, are already making strides in developing smaller, next-generation reactors. The global race for nuclear power is on, and this executive order represents a bold, albeit controversial, step by the US.

Read More