Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., have introduced a bill aimed at advancing domestic nuclear fuel recycling research and assessing the potential benefits of recycling spent nuclear fuel.
Cruz’s office said Friday the proposed Advancing Research in Nuclear Fuel Recycling Act of 2025 directs the Department of Energy to study the benefits, costs and risks of recycling spent nuclear fuel, particularly in comparison to interim storage solutions.
Table of Contents
What Will the DOE Study on Nuclear Fuel Recycling Examine?
Under the legislation, the DOE would examine historical and current challenges to nuclear fuel recycling in the U.S., identify barriers to new recycling projects and provide policy recommendations to address the challenges to recycling spent nuclear fuel.
“Spent nuclear fuel has the potential to dramatically increase America’s energy, economic, and national security. Domestic recycling can reduce the space we need for spent nuclear fuel, enhance energy independence, reduce our dependence on imports, and broaden the supply of rare elements and isotopes used in medicine and advanced technologies,” Cruz said.
“Recycling solutions will also reduce the burden on individual states from nuclear waste accumulation, and accelerate progress on nuclear energy, which is our nation’s cleanest baseload energy source,” the senator added.
What Nuclear Industry Leaders Are Saying About the Senate Bill?
Nuclear tech companies, such as Curio and Oklo, and the Nuclear Energy Institute have expressed support for the bipartisan Senate measure.
Curio CEO Ed McGinnis said spent nuclear fuel is a valuable energy resource that can enhance U.S. energy security and support advanced nuclear technologies.
“Thoughtful, science-driven approaches to recycling spent fuel are critical to unlocking that potential and ensuring the U.S. remains at the forefront of nuclear innovation,” McGinnis added.
Jacob DeWitte, co-founder and CEO of Oklo, stated that the proposed bill recognizes fuel recycling as a strategic pathway to strengthen domestic energy supply chains.
“Oklo is continuing to advance its own recycling initiatives, including plans for a commercial fuel recycling facility aimed at turning waste into a reliable domestic fuel source for its Aurora powerhouses,” he noted.
Related Articles
The Trump administration announced a series of agreements with Australia to drive innovation, advance defense capabilities and strengthen supply chain cooperation. How Will the Critical Minerals Framework Strengthen Supply Chains? The White House said Monday President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a Critical Minerals Framework that will unlock more than $3 billion in joint investments over the next six months. The critical mineral projects, with recoverable resources estimated at $53 billion, are designed to improve supply chain resilience and support global energy security. The Pentagon will fund the construction of a 100-metric-ton-per-year gallium refinery in Western
Reps. Mark Alford, R-Mo., and Hillary Scholten, D-Mich., have introduced the AI for Main Street Act, a bipartisan bill that mandates the Small Business Administration’s Small Business Development Centers, or SBDCs, to guide small enterprises through the selection and integration of AI technologies. How Will AI for Main Street Act Help Small Businesses? According to a press release from Alford’s office Monday, the legislation seeks to expand guidance, training and outreach to ensure entrepreneurs can effectively integrate AI into their operations. The proposed bill leverages prior programs like America’s SBDC AI U to scale AI assistance nationwide. Bipartisan Bill to Bridge
The Office of Personnel Management has launched an effort to consolidate the 119 separate human capital management systems in use across various agencies with a single, governmentwide platform that would simplify operations, eliminate redundancy, drive efficiencies and cost-savings, and provide a better view of federal workforce information. In a blog post, OPM Director Kiran Ahuja invited industry to submit proposals for a core HCM system that could transform how the government manages its talent pool. Why Does OPM Want a Governmentwide HCM System? According to Ahuja, having separate HCM systems per agency limits transparency and efficiency. She explained that none