WASHINGTON— The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the start of a new pilot program to accelerate the development of advanced nuclear reactors and strengthen domestic supply chains for nuclear fuel. The Department issued a Request for Application (RFA) and is seeking qualified U.S. companies to build and operate nuclear fuel production lines using the DOE authorization process. This initiative will help end America’s reliance on foreign sources of enriched uranium and critical materials, while opening the door for private sector investment in America’s nuclear renaissance.
Today’s action directly supports President Trump’s executive orders to reform nuclear reactor testing at the Department and deploy nuclear reactor technologies for national security, and establishes a domestic nuclear fuel supply chain for testing new reactors.
“America has the resources and the expertise to lead the world in nuclear energy development, but we need secure domestic supply chains to fuel this rapidly growing energy source and achieve a true nuclear energy renaissance,” said Energy Secretary Chris Wright. “The Trump Administration is accelerating innovation, not regulation, and leveraging partnerships with the private sector to safely fuel and test new reactor designs that will unleash more reliable and affordable energy for American consumers.”
Background:
DOE launched a new reactor pilot program in June 2025 to expedite the testing of advanced reactor designs that will be authorized by the Department at sites located outside of the National Laboratories.
DOE is currently reviewing potential applicants and anticipates selecting at least three advanced reactor designs later this summer that have the potential to achieve criticality by July 4, 2026.
The United States currently lacks the sufficient domestic nuclear fuel resources to meet projected demand. DOE is relying on the same authority used to expedite testing to jumpstart fuel line development and rebuild America’s nuclear fuel production base.
Applicants will be responsible for all costs associated with the construction, operation, and decommissioning of an advanced nuclear fuel line, as well as the procurement of all nuclear material feedstock. The selections will be based on a set of criteria, including technological readiness, established fuel fabrication plans, and financial viability.
While the advanced nuclear fuel lines will serve for research, development, and demonstration purposes, seeking DOE authorization of the facilities can help unlock private funding and provide a fast-tracked approach to enable future commercial licensing activities for potential applicants.
Initial applications are due by August 15, 2025, with subsequent applications allowed on a rolling basis.
Additional information on today’s RFA can be found on the FedConnect listing, here.
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