Spent Fuel Prioritization Act of 2025

This bill changes how the federal government decides which nuclear power plant sites get their used nuclear fuel and other high‑level radioactive waste picked up first. It tells the Department of Energy to rank sites using clear risk and community factors. The top priority goes to waste from plants that are shut down or shutting down, in very large population areas, in places with the highest earthquake danger, and where keeping the waste on site raises serious national security concerns.

What this means for people: waste could be moved sooner from closed plants in big, quake‑prone areas where security risks are highest, reducing long‑term storage near homes and businesses. The Department of Energy would use U.S. Geological Survey earthquake maps and consult with Defense and Homeland Security on security risks when setting the order for pickups.

Key points

• Who is affected: Communities near civilian nuclear power plants, especially closed or closing plants.
• What changes: The pickup order for spent fuel is based on plant status, local population size, earthquake hazard, and national security risk, with the highest priority given when all these factors are present.
• How it’s decided: The Department of Energy sets the order, using USGS seismic maps and input from Defense and Homeland Security on security concerns.