International Nuclear Energy Act of 2025

Summary

Creates a whole-of-government U.S. strategy to promote safe, secure, and commercially competitive civil nuclear energy abroad. It directs the Executive Branch to stand up new coordination offices, working groups, financing partnerships, outreach initiatives, and training programs; to support demonstration and export of U.S. small modular reactors (SMRs); and to authorize multiyear funding to carry out those activities. Requires U.S. diplomacy and development finance to prioritize allied and partner nations, to coordinate regulatory, safety, and liability discussions (including with India), and to produce reports and legislative recommendations, while also creating industry-facing programs to accelerate SMR deployment and build a domestic supply chain.

Key Points

• Creates a whole-of-government Office and Director for international nuclear energy policy and a Nuclear Exports Working Group to set a 10‑year trade strategy with export targets.
• Directs establishment (if feasible) of an Advanced Reactor Coordination and Resource Center to package U.S. offers, coordinate market analysis, and support regulatory/safety standards.
• Launches a U.S. small modular reactor (SMR) initiative with $1.439 billion authorized for FY2026 to accelerate demonstrations, build supply chains, and enable exports.
• Requires diplomacy and finance actions (State Department, DFC) to build financing partnerships, including a ‘U.S. competitiveness clause’ and waiver processes to enable deals.
• Creates multiple interagency working groups (Strategic Infrastructure Fund Working Group; joint consultative mechanism with India) and mandates reports and legislative language within set timelines.
• Authorizes a State Department initiative with grants, technical assistance, and $50 million per year (FY2026–2030) to support countries beginning civil nuclear programs.
• Expands an Energy Department international cooperation program and authorizes $15.5 million/year (FY2026–2030) for program activities supporting peaceful civil nuclear deployment abroad.
• Requires biennial cabinet-level international conferences on nuclear safety, security, safeguards, financing, and sustainability to coordinate allies, industry, and government.
• Targets strategic competition: explicitly prioritizes countering increased cooperation with Russia and China and promoting U.S. companies and standards overseas.

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