nuclear-news

It’s past time to start protecting U.S. nuclear power reactors from drones.

September 3, 2025 

In January, I shared a Bulletin of Atomic Scientists piece with you in which I recommended President Trump protect our nuclear power plants from drone strikes.

In the attached piece, “It’s past time to start protecting U.S. nuclear power reactors from drones,” I return to this topic. Over the last eight months, more drones have overflown American nuclear power plants. Meanwhile, the House Armed Services Committee has proposed legislation authorizing the Secretary of Energy to defend Energy Department-operated nuclear plants against drone attacks.

What’s missing is authority for civilian nuclear power plant operators to protect their plants against such threats. These reactors produce 19 percent of America’s electricity. 

In the piece below, I recommend that the congressional committees with jurisdiction over these civilian plants—the energy and homeland security committees—grant the operators similar authority to destroy or disable threatening drones. 

I also propose that the Energy Department’s National Nuclear Security Administration launch a “Nuclear Security Initiative” to ensure American reactors don’t become attractive military targets.

NPEC 3rd Sept 2025, https://npolicy.org/its-past-time-to-start-protecting-u-s-nuclear-power-reactors-from-drones/

September 7, 2025 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | safety, USA