The Department of War airlifted a next-generation nuclear reactor to Utah, advancing President Trump’s push to modernize U.S. energy and strengthen national security. (U.S. Department of War X)
In May, President Donald Trump signed several executive orders aimed at expanding domestic nuclear energy development. At the time, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said America led the postwar world on "all things nuclear" until it "stagnated" and was "choked with overregulation."
War Secretary Pete Hegseth added that the U.S. was "going to have the lights on and AI operating when others are not because of our nuclear capabilities."
One of Trump’s nuclear directives called for reforming Energy Department research and development, accelerating reactor testing at national laboratories and establishing a pilot program for new construction.
ENERGY SECRETARY REVEALS HOW US NUCLEAR TESTS WILL WORK
Nuclear energy, the White House said in the order, "is necessary to power the next generation technologies that secure our global industrial, digital, and economic dominance, achieve energy independence, and protect our national security."
The nuclear expansion effort is part of a broader administration push to reinforce domestic energy production and grid reliability across multiple sectors.
Days later, Trump signed another executive order directing the Department of War to work directly with coal-fired power plants on new long-term power purchasing agreements, arguing the move would ensure "more reliable power and stronger and more resilient grid power."
The order, "Strengthening United States National Defense with America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Power Generation Fleet," states, "The United States must ensure that our electric grid … remains resilient and reliable, and not reliant on intermittent energy sources," calling the grid "the foundation of our national defense as well as our economic stability."
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
"It is the policy of the United States that coal is essential to our national and economic security," the order adds.
Fox News Digital’s Jasmine Baehr and Charles Creitz contributed to this report.
Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital.
Story tips and ideas can be sent to Greg.Wehner@Fox.com and on Twitter @GregWehner.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/department-war-transports-next-generation-reactor-nuclear-energy-milestone