Defense and national security

Executive Order 13972: Promoting Small Modular Reactors for National Defense and Space Exploration

President: Donald J. Trump

Directed Defense to plan small-reactor demonstrations at a military installation and promoted advanced reactors for defense and space missions.

Status: In effect. Sources: Executive Order 13972 signed text · Air Force microreactor pilot milestone, June 11, 2025 · Federal Register executive order disposition table.

Is Executive Order 13972 still in effect? Yes. The January 5, 2021 order remains unrevoked in the Federal Register disposition table. It directs Defense, Energy, and NASA work on small modular reactors and space nuclear power without terminating the order when its initial planning deadlines pass.

What does Executive Order 13972 do?

EO 13972 directed agencies to support regulatory and development pathways for small modular reactors.

Later primary evidence reviewed September 24, 2026: The Air Force described a later microreactor-pilot milestone and identified this order as one of its executive foundations; the project also has separate statutory authority. Official source. The cited steps do not establish every downstream effect.

Administration position: Any policy rationale or projected benefit in the order is the administration’s position. This index record does not treat those claims as independently established facts.
SignedJanuary 5, 2021
IssuerPresident Donald J. Trump
TermFirst presidential term

Before and after

Before the order

Advanced reactor licensing and federal procurement followed existing energy and nuclear-safety law.

After the order

The Air Force described a later microreactor-pilot milestone and identified this order as one of its executive foundations; the project also has separate statutory authority.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
PresidentSigned and issued the orderJanuary 5, 2021
Named agencies and officialsCarry out directions specified in the orderAccording to the primary text

What happened next

Executive Order 13972 signed.

Later primary evidence reviewed: The Air Force described a later microreactor-pilot milestone and identified this order as one of its executive foundations; the project also has separate statutory authority.