U.S. Seeks to Give Weapons-Grade Plutonium to Start-Ups for Fuel

scienceMay 26, 202633365

The Biden administration proposed transferring Cold War weapons-grade plutonium from Energy Department stockpiles to private reactor startups to be fabricated into reactor fuel. The plan would let companies developing advanced and experimental reactors convert plutonium into test and commercial fuel, marking a break from long-standing federal custody rules for surplus bomb material. Proponents say using the plutonium could speed commercial demonstrations and reduce long-term storage costs; critics say moving weapons-usable material into private hands increases proliferation, safety, and regulatory risks. The decision could reshape the nuclear industry by unlocking a large fuel source while forcing tighter safeguards and international scrutiny.

Craig Calcaterra

@craigcalcaterra.bsky.social

I cannot see any downsides or unexpected consequences to this sort of thing. Let the market decide where the weapons-grade plutonium goes. bsky.app/profile/ghos...

11353d ago

Nate W.W.4

Just as Doc Emmett Brown predicted, albeit 41 years late.

unoservix3

hello comrades my name is Bob Notanagentofnorthkorea i am an american i would like a large order of fissile materials and also an american baja blast thank you

journeyman folklorist

@aniceburrito.bsky.social

My startup, which is renowned for moving fast and breaking things, has applied to receive weapons-grade plutonium

14153d ago

a real, authentic person 🌯12

Everyone should have a demon core

hi their4

Monopolization in this case has an exciting new danger as well as the regular dangers associated with it

Charlie's Juice4

I remember when we started Eras of Forever War because someone maybe had some depleted uranium in their sock drawer but okay

James Alexander Clark3

IRGC in a trenchcoat and marx brothers disguise

Moth3

Billionaires with weapons grade plutonium and ICBMs. What could possibly go wrong?

PRION PLANET3

Founding a startup to build data centres in Iran

Tyler King

@tyleraking.com

The words “plutonium-powered nuclear reactor startup” are never never going to sit right with me.

5953d ago

Tyler King7

Also makes we wonder if this is why trump thinks he needs the Iranian uranium “dust”.

The Rooster

@rooster.info

Mr. Trump sir… I will gladly take some weapons-grade plutonium to power my startup.

1553d ago

Kate Ross

@kateross.bsky.social

Great week for Sam Altman's personal investment portfolio Oklo Is Turning Weapons-Grade Plutonium Into Nuclear Fuel. The Stock Is Climbing It's so nice Trump is giving them Weapons-Grade Plutonium

852d ago

groovenick

@groovenick.bsky.social

What could go wrong? Not worried at all about (checks notes) private companies obtaining (checks notes again) weapons-grade plutonium.

852d ago

reversekarma.bsky.social

@reversekarma.bsky.social

“Countries have tried this before, and they concluded that, as nice as it would be to use that plutonium as fuel, it’s really just a liability and we need to dispose of it permanently,” said Scott Roecker, a vice president at the Nuclear Threat Initiative. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/26/c...

353d ago

Mike Walker

@newnarrative.bsky.social

Breaking News: The Trump administration is moving forward with a plan to use plutonium from nuclear warheads to fuel power plants. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/26/c...

353d ago

Spacely Sprockets🇺🇦

@spacely.bsky.social

Did he now. "Mr. Markey has raised concerns that Energy Secretary Chris Wright had previously sat on Oklo’s board before joining the government." 🎁 Link www.nytimes.com/2026/05/26/c...

153d ago

GrisGris

@grisgris4me.bsky.social

tRump wants to sell weapons-grade plutonium to start-ups for fuel. What could possibly go wrong?

353d ago

Joe Russo

@truthmatters2028.bsky.social

U.S. Seeks to Give Weapons-Grade Plutonium to Start-Ups for Fuel www.nytimes.com/2026/05/26/c...

153d ago

Moth

@7amkickoff.com

Billionaires with weapons grade plutonium and ICBMs. What could possibly go wrong?

353d ago

George S

@harmonygritz.bsky.social

Who amongst ye wouldn't trust the next AI or surveillance startup with weapons-grade plutonium?

1950s comic-book character Space Mouse breaks the fourth wall and looks at us. Text: Now, I ask you!

253d ago

Cacao Byproduct

@cacaobyproduct.bsky.social

also like IIRC weapons-grade materials are not suitable for nuclear reactors! but like plutonium-powered nuclear reactors are cool tbf, iirc there's newer reactor models that use literal nuclear waste to extract further energy, which is really cool startups tho? YIKES

153d ago

Heather H

@turbokat42.bsky.social

I'll find a Delorean to go with that weapons grade plutonium the US government wants to hand out.

152d ago

1 source

nytimes.comU.S. Seeks to Give Weapons-Grade Plutonium to Start-Ups for Fuel

U.S. Seeks to Give Weapons-Grade Plutonium to Start-Ups for Fuelscience Trump declares himself in 'perfect health' after Walter Reed examscience Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC outpaces response as aid arrivesscience NASA outlines Moon Base plan, targets multiple commercial landersscience

U.S. Seeks to Give Weapons-Grade Plutonium to Start-Ups for Fuel

Related