| Sumario: | The article focuses on the challenges and federal efforts to expand the U.S. nuclear energy workforce amid ambitious goals to increase nuclear capacity and develop advanced nuclear technologies. The Department of Energy (DOE) and industry leaders highlight workforce shortages, an aging employee base, and insufficient training infrastructure as key barriers to deploying next-generation nuclear reactors, including advanced modular reactors and fusion energy. Bipartisan legislative initiatives and executive actions aim to support workforce development through apprenticeships, retraining, and funding for science and engineering programs. While nuclear fission currently provides about 19 percent of U.S. electricity, fusion energy remains a longer-term goal with potential for greater output and less waste, prompting increased research and workforce demand.
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