On May 23, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to promote the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies at strategic federal facilities. The initiative aims to reinforce American leadership in safe, reliable, and zero-emission electricity generation, in response to the growing energy demand of artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.

According to the official White House fact sheet, the order instructs the Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Defense (DoD) to coordinate the construction of new reactors on federal sites, including a military base expected to begin operations within three years. AI data centers located at DOE facilities will be designated as critical defense infrastructure.

“The Federal Government’s advanced computing AI infrastructure will require a substantial increase in scalable power solutions, which advanced nuclear reactors are well-positioned to provide,” the document states.

Strong backing from the private sector

Constellation Energy, the largest zero-emission electricity producer in the U.S., issued a statement on the same day expressing support for the president’s order.

“We applaud the Trump administration for its strong support for preserving and expanding America’s nuclear fleet to power our economy, win the AI race against China, and reassert America’s leadership in nuclear energy,” the company said in its official statement.

The company, which operates 12 nuclear plants across the country, praised the administration’s efforts to fast-track reactor licensing, boost domestic fuel enrichment, and accelerate the construction of new nuclear units, while maintaining the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) safety oversight.

“We have some of the largest companies in the world — the hyper-scalers — who need this energy for AI, who are now working with us to fund the development and construction of the next-generation nuclear,” said Constellation Energy CEO Joseph Dominguez. “Nuclear is a 24/7 resource. These datacenters run 24/7. Some of them will cost 2, 300 billion, and they want to run them all the time so we can’t use intermittent resources. We need something that’s always on 24/7 and nothing does that better than nuclear … The problem in the industry has historically been regulatory delay.”

Expansion plans and job creation

Constellation also announced plans to invest billions of dollars to expand and modernize its nuclear fleet. These projects include increasing plant generation capacity by up to 1,000 megawatts, renewing operating licenses through the 2070s, and creating more than 11,000 long-term jobs.

These investments align with a growing trend among major utilities anticipating a surge in electricity consumption driven by the AI boom. Constellation CEO Joseph Dominguez recently emphasized the need to locate power generation close to data centers for efficiency.

“Locating AI facilities near large, clean and reliable power plants still makes all the sense in the world. But critically, we do not need to have the load co-located or behind the meter to achieve attractive pricing,” Dominguez said during the company’s Q1 earnings call, according to Data Center Dynamics.

Regulatory concerns and geopolitical implications

While the company has welcomed the initiative, some experts have raised concerns over the speed of implementation. Critics warn that fast-tracking nuclear licensing may risk undermining regulatory independence and safety. The Trump administration maintains that bureaucratic obstacles will be reduced without compromising NRC standards.

Internationally, the White House confirmed plans to enhance U.S. nuclear exports through diplomatic efforts. According to the administration, 87% of new nuclear reactors worldwide rely on foreign designs, and most nuclear fuel comes from abroad. The order aims to reduce dependency on strategic rivals such as China and Russia.

A multidimensional energy strategy

President Trump’s nuclear strategy is not just about clean energy. It’s part of a broader vision to make the U.S. more energy independent, industrially autonomous, and technologically dominant in the age of AI.

Constellation Energy—already responsible for about 25% of America’s nuclear generation—appears ready to play a central role in that transformation.