Trump administration to give weapons-grade plutonium to private companies

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/26/climate/plutonium-nuclear-weapons-fuel.html

U.S. Seeks to Give Weapons-Grade Plutonium to Start-Ups for Fuel
Companies say it’s a better way to dispose of the Cold War-era material — and fix a shortage of nuclear fuel. But the plan has also faced criticism from nonproliferation experts.
By Brad Plumer
May 26, 2026 Updated 3:10 p.m. ET

The Trump administration is moving forward with a plan to provide Cold War-era plutonium from dismantled nuclear warheads to companies that want to convert the dangerous material into fuel for nuclear power plants.

The plan has generated debate and some unease among nonproliferation experts. If finalized, it would mark the first time the U.S. government has made weapons-grade plutonium available to private companies. The Energy Department has more than 50 tons of surplus plutonium left over from nuclear weapons programs, and the agency had previously been planning to dilute much of that material and bury it.

On Tuesday, the Energy Department said that it had selected five companies to enter into “advanced negotiations” to potentially receive some surplus plutonium. That includes Oklo, a California-based nuclear power company, which plans to partner with Newcleo, a European developer of advanced nuclear reactors.

Using plutonium for fuel, Oklo and Newcleo said, could solve a looming problem: Energy firms want to build a new wave of nuclear reactors, but the United States can’t yet make enough conventional fuel from uranium to supply the plants. Harvesting old plutonium stockpiles could provide a short-term fix.

The plan has been criticized by some Democrats and nuclear nonproliferation experts, who point out that plutonium can be used to create nuclear weapons and argue that it needs extremely strict safeguards. Critics also say that past efforts by the United States and other governments to turn plutonium into fuel for reactors have faced technical difficulties and soaring costs.

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