The NRC has issued a Federal Register notice confirming the January 8, 2026 effective date of its direct final rule implementing the requirements of Executive Order 14270, Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting to Unleash American Energy. The direct final rule sets conditional
Up & Atom
Up & Atom, published by Morgan Lewis, focuses on legal and regulatory developments in the nuclear energy sector. The blog covers topics such as Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) policies, enforcement frameworks, and rulemaking processes. It also addresses government initiatives related to nuclear innovation, advanced reactor technologies, and the intersection of nuclear energy with emerging scientific fields like artificial intelligence. The blog highlights interagency cooperation and executive actions aimed at accelerating nuclear energy development and regulatory reform.
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With a New Chair and Full Commission, NRC Enters 2026 Poised for Action
By Morgan Lewis
The NRC saw major staffing transitions in 2025, including an unprecedented number of vacancies at the senior staff level. As 2026 kicks off, the Commission has returned to a full slate of five, and the agency has filled significant senior…
High Standards: Marijuana Reclassification and NRC Fitness-for-Duty Requirements
By Morgan Lewis
President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order directing the reclassification of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This reclassification, along with the growing number of states that allow medical and recreational marijuana use, further complicates the legal landscape…
National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2026 Creates Holistic Strategy to Support US Nuclear Industry Leadership
By Morgan Lewis
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (the NDAA) was signed into law by US President Donald Trump on December 18, 2025. Through the NDAA, the US Congress sets the year’s policy direction for the US Armed Forces.…
Proposed Guidance for Evaluating LOCAs Encourages Early Adopters of New Approaches
By Morgan Lewis
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission recently released Draft Interim Staff Guidance (ISG) DSS-ISG-2025-XX, Treatment of Certain Loss-of-Coolant Accident Locations as Beyond-Design-Basis Accidents. The draft guidance, if adopted, would allow the NRC staff to determine that certain break locations that would…
SECY-24-0009 Explained: NRC Begins Reshaping Enforcement Framework in Line with Parallel Regulatory Review
By Morgan Lewis
On November 18, 2025, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued its Staff Requirements Memorandum for SECY-24-0009, which proposed changes to the NRC Enforcement Policy governing regulated materials and civil penalties. The proposed changes reflect the NRC Office of Enforcement’s periodic…
Genesis Mission: White House Aims to Accelerate AI-Driven Scientific Discovery, Including Energy & Nuclear Research
By Morgan Lewis
The White House recently issued an executive order establishing the “Genesis Mission,” a US Department of Energy (DOE)-led initiative aimed at accelerating scientific discovery using advanced AI. Nuclear energy was specifically highlighted as one of the key scientific areas for…
NRC Issues Final Rule Revising Certain Rules of Practice, Signaling Its Intentions for Regulatory Reform
By Morgan Lewis
Under the auspices of Section 5 of Executive Order 14300, Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) published on November 26, 2025 an immediately effective final rule, Streamlining Select Rules of Practice and Procedure.…
US Agencies Expand Cooperation to Accelerate Advanced Nuclear Development
By Morgan Lewis
As part of the response to four executive orders focused on expanding and accelerating the development and use of nuclear energy, the US Department of Energy and US Nuclear Regulatory Commission have signed Addendum 9 to their 2019 Memorandum of…
Speeding Up Deregulation: Inside OIRA’s New Streamlining Memorandum
By Morgan Lewis
On October 21, 2025, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) within the Office of Management and Budget issued Memorandum M-25-36, Streamlining the Review of Deregulatory Actions . The directive sets shorter timelines, encourages the use of legal exemptions…