Executive Order 14299: Deploying Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technologies for National Security
President: Donald J. Trump
Directed Defense and Energy to deploy advanced reactors at military installations and Energy sites and support power for national-security infrastructure.
Status: In effect.
Is Executive Order 14299 still in effect? Yes. Active; Defense and Energy deployment programs underway.
What does Executive Order 14299 do?
The text directs Defense to designate installations and deploy reactors, and Energy to identify sites and authorize department projects.
Later primary evidence reviewed September 24, 2026: DOE consulted on a categorical exclusion for potential military-installation reactor projects in alignment with this order; the notice does not establish that a reactor was built. Official source. The cited steps do not establish every downstream effect.
Reading the operative provisions of Executive Order 14299
EO 14299 directs the Defense and Energy Departments to advance deployment of advanced nuclear reactor technologies at selected military installations and Energy Department sites. It links potential demonstration projects to national-security infrastructure and seeks faster development and testing. The Federal Register text of EO 14299 assigns agency planning and implementation tasks; it does not authorize a reactor to operate without the required safety and licensing reviews.
Advanced reactors can differ in fuel, size, cooling systems and operating model, so each design and site has distinct safety questions. Federal agencies must determine which regulatory framework applies, whether a license or authorization is required, and how emergency planning, waste management and security will be handled. Military use does not eliminate the need for technical review; it can change which agency has authority and what information is classified.
The order calls for selection, design and deployment steps, but a demonstration project moves through milestones: site assessment, design validation, fuel availability, construction, testing and operation. Completion of one stage does not prove that a reactor is producing electricity or supporting a mission. Evidence should come from agency decisions, safety documentation and project updates. The order sets a national-security objective, while the engineering and legal record determines when a reactor can be used.
Before and after
Before the order
Federal demonstration and military power projects used Atomic Energy Act, procurement and environmental authorities.
After the order
Departments developed site and procurement plans; no reactor may operate without the applicable federal authorization, safety case and appropriations.
DOE consulted on a categorical exclusion for potential military-installation reactor projects in alignment with this order; the notice does not establish that a reactor was built.
Who had to do what
| Agency / office | Action | Timing / position |
|---|---|---|
| Defense | Designate installations and deploy reactors | First operation target Sep 2028 |
| Energy | Identify sites and authorize department projects | Ongoing |
| Agencies | Develop fuel and supply-chain support | 90 days / ongoing |
What happened next
EO 14299 signed.
Later primary evidence reviewed: DOE consulted on a categorical exclusion for potential military-installation reactor projects in alignment with this order; the notice does not establish that a reactor was built.
Legal and source detail
How it works legally
The Atomic Energy Act allocates DOE, DOD and NRC roles. Safety, security, environmental review, procurement and appropriations requirements remain.
Sources by type
If a source is unavailable, first check the cited publisher or another official repository. The cited publisher remains the authority.
Primary and official sources
Orders, laws, court records and official implementation material.
- www.energy.gov (opens in a new tab) Official record
How we checked this
Last checked against the sources above on September 24, 2026. How we research →