Trump Energy Department Eases Nuclear Safety Rules Amid Startup Boom
Nuclear startups raise over $1 billion as Trump administration relaxes safety rules on reactors.
The Department of Energy made these changes without telling the public. They took away about a third of the safety rules and changed others. Some important rules about keeping our water clean became just suggestions. Also, workers at these plants can now get higher doses of radiation.
These new rules only affect nuclear reactors built on government property. Other reactors still follow the older safety rules set by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Several startups are working on new reactors hoping to meet a deadline of July 4, 2026, set by the Trump administration.