U.S. Government Seeks Nuclear Startup Partners for Weapons-Grade Plutonium Disposal
The U.S. government is exploring partnerships with nuclear startups to help manage its stockpile of weapons-grade plutonium.
The administration is considering whether private-sector innovation could provide pathways to utilize the dozens of tons of surplus plutonium currently in storage. Nuclear startups developing advanced reactor designs may offer solutions for converting this material into usable energy.
The initiative represents a potential shift in how the government approaches its nuclear material inventory, turning what has traditionally been a disposal and security concern into a potential energy development opportunity.