Trending Now - Trump Administration Encourages Nuclear Startups to Utilize Plutonium

WHO:

CNN - The Trump administration, five private companies including Oklo Inc, Exodys Energy, SHINE, Standard Nuclear, and Flibe Energy.

CNN - Mike Goff, principal deputy assistant secretary of nuclear energy.

CNN - Jacob DeWitte, co-founder and CEO of Oklo.

CNN - Democratic Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Representatives Don Beyer of Virginia and John Garamendi of California.

WHAT:

CNN - The Trump administration is negotiating access to weapons-grade plutonium from Cold War-era warheads for five private companies.

CNN - The companies will convert surplus plutonium into fuel for next-generation small modular nuclear reactors.

CNN - The Energy Department's Surplus Plutonium Utilization Program is aimed at unlocking private funding and broadening domestic nuclear fuel supplies.

CNN - The program could help advanced nuclear companies overcome fuel supply constraints.

WHERE:

CNN - The negotiations involve the U.S. Department of Energy and its facilities, including the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

WHEN:

CNN - The Energy Department announced the selection of companies for negotiations on a Tuesday (exact date not specified).

WHY:

CNN - The Trump administration aims to repurpose old plutonium for nuclear power fuel to support the development of advanced nuclear reactors.

CNN - Critics warn that transferring weapons-usable plutonium to private industry could increase the risk of nuclear weapons proliferation.

HOW:

CNN - The selected companies will enter advanced negotiations to access weapons-grade plutonium for conversion into nuclear fuel.

CNN - The process involves transforming surplus plutonium into energy-dense fuel suitable for advanced reactors.

(UPDATED May 27, 2026 06:23 UTC)

The Trump administration is currently in negotiations with five private companies, including Oklo Inc and Exodys Energy, to gain access to weapons-grade plutonium from Cold War-era warheads. This initiative, part of the Energy Department's Surplus Plutonium Utilization Program, aims to convert surplus plutonium into fuel for next-generation small modular nuclear reactors, potentially alleviating fuel supply constraints for advanced nuclear companies. However, critics express concerns that transferring weapons-usable plutonium to the private sector could heighten the risk of nuclear weapons proliferation.