• The Department of Energy is launching an aggressive program to purchase and own up to 10 nuclear reactors, marking the most significant federal intervention in nuclear power in decades.
  • A May 2025 Executive Order sets a target for at least three new reactors to achieve operational status by July 4, 2026, with construction expedited at DOE-owned facilities.
  • The initiative is backed by an $80 billion strategic partnership with Westinghouse, Cameco, and Brookfield, explicitly linking nuclear expansion to supporting AI infrastructure and critical national needs.

Unprecedented Federal Move

The US government is moving to directly purchase and own as many as 10 nuclear reactors through the Department of Energy, according to multiple people familiar with the matter, in a radical departure from traditional energy policy that underscores the urgency of securing reliable power for critical infrastructure.

The effort gained significant momentum in June 2025 when the DOE launched its "Reactor Pilot Program," naming 10 companies—a mix of established players and advanced reactor startups—to expedite testing and deployment of next-generation nuclear designs. The selection includes firms developing technologies ranging from microreactors to molten salt reactors.

Accelerated Timeline

A May 2025 Executive Order (14301) established an ambitious target for at least three new reactors to achieve criticality by July 4, 2026, setting in motion rapid site selection and construction processes at DOE-owned facilities. "The timeline is aggressive, but achievable given the national security implications," said one official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the program publicly.

The government's push is backed by a strategic partnership between the US Government, Westinghouse Electric Company, Cameco, and Brookfield that aims to deploy at least $80 billion in new reactors across the United States. These reactors will utilize Westinghouse technology and are explicitly designed to support energy-intensive AI infrastructure and other critical national needs.

Industry Response

Westinghouse, recently acquired by Brookfield and Cameco, stands to be a primary beneficiary of the initiative. The company's AP1000 and advanced reactor designs are expected to form the backbone of the new fleet. Representatives from Westinghouse did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the scale of their involvement.

The DOE's pilot program participants include companies like Radiant and Terrestrial Energy, though the complete list of 10 firms has not been publicly detailed. Industry sources indicate that the selection process prioritized technologies that could be deployed rapidly to meet the 2026 operational targets.

Broader Implications

This initiative represents the most significant federal investment in nuclear energy since the Cold War era, with officials framing it as essential for grid reliability, energy security, and maintaining technological competitiveness. The parallel trend of public-private partnerships for nuclear development has gained momentum, exemplified by Constellation Energy recently securing a $1 billion federal loan to restart a previously closed nuclear unit with plans to supply Microsoft's data centers.

Labor groups have expressed support for the job creation potential, while technology stakeholders emphasize the reliability and decarbonization benefits. However, some industry observers caution that regulatory hurdles and local opposition to siting could pose challenges to the aggressive deployment schedule.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the number of companies in the DOE's Reactor Pilot Program. The correct number is 10.