Trump energy department loosens rules on nuclear safety

The Trump administration has significantly relaxed nuclear safety regulations within the Department of Energy (DOE), cutting about a third of the existing rulebook and revising key sections. These changes reduce mandatory protections related to groundwater and environmental contamination to mere suggestions and allow workers to be exposed to higher radiation levels. Additionally, security protocols for nuclear plants on DOE property have been largely delegated to the operating companies themselves. These new rules were implemented without public notice or comment and apply exclusively to reactors built on DOE land, while reactors elsewhere remain under the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s oversight. This regulatory shift comes amid a surge in funding for nuclear startups, driven in part by the growing electricity demands of data centers. Several companies are racing to develop demonstration reactors on DOE property to meet a Trump administration deadline of July 4, 2026. While the relaxed rules may accelerate reactor development, they raise concerns about potential risks to human health and the environment due to diminished safety and security standards.