**WASHINGTON** — The Trump administration’s “American Energy Dominance” agenda remains the centerpiece of its effort to expand U.S. energy production, speed federal permitting and ease regulations covering oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear power and critical minerals.
The push began on the first day of the term with a national energy emergency declaration and the executive order “Unleashing American Energy,” which reopened federal lands and offshore areas, accelerated project reviews and made higher domestic output an explicit priority.
That approach has not slowed. The Senate voted 88-2 for a package meant to strengthen the nuclear sector, combining it with legislation reauthorizing the U.S. Fire Administration and firefighter grant programs. Sens. Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., opposed the measure.
Sponsors said the nuclear provisions would speed approvals for new plants as many existing reactors near the end of their operating lives, lower licensing fees for companies starting projects and require the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to report on ways to simplify and shorten environmental reviews.
President Trump has also issued executive orders directing the NRC to streamline rules and act on new nuclear license applications within 18 months. Officials argue the United States once led the world in nuclear design and construction but lost ground to China because of delays and high costs. The orders seek faster federal permitting for new reactors and technologies and a smaller regulatory footprint at the commission.
A separate House-passed measure is now before the Senate. The Homeowner Energy Freedom Act, led by Rep. Craig Goldman, R-Texas, would repeal Biden-era energy-efficiency and home-electrification programs that Goldman says have driven up housing costs. He has argued the rules can add as much as $31,000 to the price of a new home and make ownership harder to reach.
The bill would make it easier to install gas stoves and water heaters in new homes. If it clears the Senate and is signed, the Energy Department would end rebate programs that reward certain high-efficiency electric upgrades in low- and middle-income households, contractor-training grants for home energy efficiency, and aid for state and local governments to adopt specified building energy codes. Reps. Dan Crenshaw and Jake Ellzey, both Texas Republicans, are among the sponsors. Goldman said he hopes the Senate will “swiftly” pass the legislation.
As of mid-2026, the administration’s energy agenda has emphasized fossil-fuel expansion, a revival of coal, nuclear growth, faster reviews under laws such as NEPA, and baseload power to meet rising electricity demand, including from data centers and artificial intelligence. Officials point to production and permitting gains. Independent analyses have also noted pressure on renewable-energy investment.
Taken together, the White House, Senate nuclear measure and House housing bill form a single argument from Republicans: produce more energy at home, cut regulatory delay and lower costs for power and housing.
