Trump taps plutonium reserves to fuel private SMR startups

The Trump administration plans to give several private nuclear start-ups access to about 99 tons of Cold War–era plutonium to be repurposed as fuel for small modular reactors, aiming to spur nuclear energy and reduce reliance on Russian uranium. Critics warn this raises proliferation and security risks, questions feasibility and cost, and could send a counterproductive signal on disarmament, with concerns about safety, handling, and potential conflicts of interest.