Fact Check: President Trump signed an executive order last month mandating sweeping reforms to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, including a wholesale revision of the agency's safety regulations.

Fact Check: President Trump Signed an Executive Order Mandating Sweeping Reforms to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission

What We Know

On May 23, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order titled "Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission" (NRC) aimed at modernizing the agency's operations and regulations. This order mandates comprehensive reforms intended to enhance the efficiency of nuclear energy production in the United States. The executive order outlines several key directives, including the establishment of fixed deadlines for the evaluation and approval of nuclear reactor licenses, the adoption of science-based radiation limits, and a reorganization of the NRC's structure and culture to promote nuclear energy source-1, source-2.

The executive order also emphasizes the need for the NRC to consider the economic and national security benefits of nuclear power alongside traditional safety concerns. It aims to facilitate the deployment of new reactor technologies and increase the United States' nuclear energy capacity from approximately 100 gigawatts (GW) to 400 GW by 2050 source-3.

Analysis

The claim that President Trump signed an executive order mandating sweeping reforms to the NRC is accurate and supported by multiple credible sources. The executive order explicitly directs the NRC to undertake significant changes, including revising its safety regulations and operational procedures. The order's focus on reducing regulatory barriers and expediting the licensing process for nuclear reactors indicates a substantial shift in policy aimed at revitalizing the nuclear energy sector source-4.

However, the reliability of the sources must be considered. The official White House fact sheet and the executive order itself are primary sources that provide direct evidence of the actions taken by the President. These documents are authoritative and reflect the administration's intentions and directives. Other sources, such as analyses from energy policy experts and legal commentators, provide context and implications of the order, though they may carry varying degrees of bias depending on the publication's stance on nuclear energy source-5.

Critics of the executive order have raised concerns about its potential implications for public safety and environmental regulations, suggesting that the reforms may undermine the NRC's ability to protect public health source-8. Nonetheless, these critiques do not negate the fact that the executive order itself mandates significant changes to the NRC.

Conclusion

The claim that President Trump signed an executive order mandating sweeping reforms to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is True. The executive order clearly outlines a comprehensive plan for reforming the NRC, including revisions to safety regulations and operational procedures, aimed at promoting nuclear energy in the United States. The evidence from official sources confirms the authenticity of this claim.

Sources

1. Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Directs Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
2. Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
3. 9 Key Takeaways from President Trump's Executive Orders on Nuclear Energy
4. Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
5. President Trump Orders Reform of Nuclear Regulatory Commission
6. Reforming the Nuclear Regulatory Commission: An Overview of President Trump's May 23 Executive Order
7. What Trump's new executive orders mean for the US nuclear energy industry
8. New Executive Orders Undercut Nuclear Regulatory Commission Authority to Protect Public Safety and Security