Montanans know the value of protecting our land, water, and communities. Rushing nuclear development by stripping away safeguards puts all of that at risk.
Here is a list of resources that lay out some of the rapid nuclear policy changes from the past year.
DOGE Goes Nuclear: How Trump Invited Silicon Valley Into America’s Nuclear Power Regulator
March 20, 2026 – ProPublica
- ProPublica: The Trump administration is working with Silicon Valley–linked operatives in the DOGE to rapidly weakening and reshaping the NRC.
How the NRC lost its independence
Feb. 17, 2026 – E&E News
- E&E News: Leadership changes, White House rule review, and expanded DOE influence—effectively politicizing what was historically a safety-focused, independent regulator.
The Trump administration has secretly rewritten nuclear safety rules
Jan. 28, 2026 – NPR News
- NPR News: DOE slashes close to two-thirds of its safety standards to expedite its Reactor Pilot Program.
NRC Mulls Changes to Radiation Safety Requirements
March 17, 2026 – Science Policy News
- Science Policy News: The Department of Energy recently eliminated the “as low as reasonably achievable” standard (ALARA) for radiation exposure. By April 30, the NRC will propose revising 28 rules, including the ALARA standard.
Gov. Cox is wrong about nuclear power
Feb. 1, 2026 – Deseret News
- Deseret News: Op-ed on nuclear impacts, including radiation exposure
Proximity to nuclear power plants associated with increased cancer mortality
Feb. 23, 2026 – Harvard School of Public Health
- Harvard School of Public Health: Harvard reports that a nationwide study found U.S. counties closer to nuclear power plants have higher cancer mortality rates.
South Dakota inches toward studying nuclear power as data center energy demands loom
Jan 30, 2026 – States News Room, South Dakota Searchlight
- States News Room, South Dakota Searchlight: NWE mentioned to be evaluating potential vendors and projects site for a SMR, aiming for a 2030 construction date
Understand Small Modular Reactors
Sept. 9, 2025 – Stanford University
- Stanford University: SMR breakdown by Stanford Energy
The risky move to make America nuclear again
Oct 20, 2025 – Bloomberg News
- Bloomberg News: How a well-funded Silicon Valley–backed push to deploy SMRs is gaining political support despite past regulatory failures and unresolved safety concerns.
A “nuclear renaissance” built on false promises and growing risk
Sept. 5, 2025 – Nuclear Costs
- NuclearCosts.org: Op-ed on the so-called “nuclear renaissance” is driven by overly optimistic claims, while in reality nuclear projects face persistent problems.
The Trump administration exempts new nuclear reactors from environmental review
Feb. 2, 2026 – NPR News
- NPR News: The Trump administration is allowing new advanced nuclear reactors to bypass key requirements of NEPA, reducing environmental review and public oversight in an effort to speed up reactor development despite safety concerns from critics.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission plans inspection time cuts
March 10, 2026 – KULR8 News
- KULR8 News: The NRC is planning to make significant reductions in the time its staff spends on safety and emergency inspections.
Essay about nuclear energy versus renewables omits crucial fundamentals
March 26, 2025 – Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
- Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Argues pro-nuclear narratives overlook key realities—namely that nuclear power is far more expensive and slower to deploy than renewables.
