Nuclear Energy Innovation and Deployment Act (NEIDA)
In committee- Bill / vehicle
- S.4284 (119th Congress)
- Status
- In committee
- Date
- Introduced Apr. 14, 2026 — in committee
- Administration
- Trump II
- Topic
- Federal-land reactors; closed fuel cycle
- Sponsors
- Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) & Dave McCormick (R-PA)
What it does
Would create a clear DOE-led pathway to authorize commercial reactors and fuel-cycle facilities on federal land — a 'Nuclear Energy Launch Pad' of designated test-and-demonstration sites — and clarify DOE's authority over privately sponsored reactor projects. It also contains provisions to repurpose surplus weapons plutonium as advanced-reactor fuel.
Why it matters
Aims squarely at the 'valley of death' between a demonstration reactor and a commercial one, and would put the closed fuel cycle on firmer statutory footing. Introduced in April 2026 and still in committee — early days.
This is a bill, not law. It may be amended significantly or fail to advance — most introduced bills never become law. Check the live status via the sources below.
Primary sources
Learn the underlying ideas
New here? These concept explainers give you the background to understand what this law is actually doing.