Senate Votes 88-2 To Bolster Key Energy Sector
The U.S. Senate has overwhelmingly approved legislation that will turbocharge America’s nuclear energy sector, giving President Donald Trump a historic win in his effort to “unleash American energy.”
The bill sailed through on an 88–2 vote, with only far-left Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) standing in opposition. It was paired with a measure reauthorizing the U.S. Fire Administration and firefighter grant programs, ensuring broad bipartisan support. The combined package now heads to President Trump’s desk for signature.
The legislation streamlines the permitting process for new nuclear plants at a time when many of the nation’s reactors are nearing retirement. It slashes excessive licensing fees, instructs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to simplify environmental reviews, and clears the path for next-generation technology such as small modular reactors.
“It will be history-making in terms of small modular reactors, which is the future of nuclear,” Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) said.
Industry leaders hailed the bill as a breakthrough.
“It’s a facilitator of the process by which industry has to get approvals for building these projects,” Lesley Jantarasami of the Bipartisan Policy Center told The Hill.
The House advanced the bill with similar force, passing it 393–13–1. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) voted “present,” signaling her familiar hostility toward nuclear power while attempting to cover herself by backing the fire protection piece.
Trump’s America-First Energy Agenda
President Trump has made expanding nuclear capacity a centerpiece of his second term, signing four executive orders instructing the NRC to cut red tape, accelerate licensing decisions, and act on applications within 18 months.
The United States once led the world in nuclear design and construction, but regulatory delays and spiraling costs allowed China to seize the top spot. Trump’s strategy is designed to take that leadership back.
The administration’s goal is ambitious: triple domestic nuclear power generation over the next 25 years, from roughly 100 gigawatts today to 400 gigawatts by 2050. Federal tax incentives for new facilities remain in place but require construction to begin before 2029 — ensuring fast action, not endless delays.
Senate Approves Trump Nominees After Beating Democrat Obstruction
The Senate also confirmed 48 of President Trump’s nominees on Thursday, following the GOP’s decision to use the “nuclear option” to overcome months of Democrat stonewalling.
Among those approved were Kimberly Guilfoyle, former Fox News host and fiancée of Donald Trump Jr., who now serves as U.S. Ambassador to Greece, and Callista Gingrich, wife of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who will represent the U.S. in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) blasted Democrats for paralyzing the chamber.
“Why has not a single nominee been confirmed by voice vote or by unanimous consent? We know why,” Barrasso said. “It’s Democrat obstruction. The country has never seen anything like this. Senate Democrats are freezing the Senate floor, freezing the federal government, and freezing our nation’s progress. This harms America’s safety. It hamstrings the agenda that Americans voted for.”
With nuclear energy expansion on the horizon and a slate of Trump’s nominees finally moving forward, the Senate is sending a clear message: the era of green radicalism and left-wing obstruction is coming to an end.