Three Key Takeaways:
- Energy Secretary Chris Wright implemented sweeping reforms to cut red tape at America’s national labs, aiming to accelerate critical infrastructure projects and save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.
- The reforms have been praised by lab directors, with major facilities like Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories set to benefit from faster project timelines and reduced bureaucratic hurdles.
- This move contrasts sharply with the Biden administration’s approach, which added more regulations, and underscores Trump’s commitment to restoring American energy dominance and national security.
President Donald Trump’s Energy Secretary just made a move that has Washington, D.C. insiders in shock.
The career bureaucrats never saw this coming.
And Energy Secretary Chris Wright dropped this bombshell that has Democrats fuming.
Trump Admin Slashes Red Tape at America’s National Labs
Energy Secretary Chris Wright isn’t wasting any time implementing President Trump’s America First agenda at the Department of Energy.
In a bold move that has the Washington, D.C. establishment reeling, Wright announced sweeping reforms to slash red tape and bureaucratic hurdles that have been strangling America’s national weapons labs and science facilities for decades.
“By reforming DOE’s permitting rules and regulations for our National Labs, we can speed up critical infrastructure improvements and make the Energy Department a better steward of taxpayer dollars,” Wright declared. “President Trump pledged to bring common sense back to our energy policymaking, and that’s exactly what we’re doing today.”
.@SecretaryWright expedited permitting reforms for construction projects on Department of Energy lands.
DOE’s national Lab and nuclear weapons assembly plant directors say it’s “welcome progress” and “better serves the nation.” https://t.co/8JwzvxEvUi— U.S. Department of Energy (@ENERGY) April 6, 2025
The reforms will save American taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars while dramatically speeding up critical national security projects.
For years, America’s weapons labs have been forced to operate in aging facilities – some dating back to the Manhattan Project. Meanwhile, China has been building state-of-the-art facilities to challenge American dominance.
Lab Directors Celebrate Freedom from Government Red Tape
The directors of America’s 17 national laboratories – which form the backbone of the country’s scientific enterprise – are praising Wright’s decisive action.
“This is the most substantive and quickest change in improving lab operations that I have seen in my many years with DOE,” said Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Director Dr. Steven Ashby.
Idaho National Laboratory Director John Wagner called it a “bias for action” that will have “immediate and long-lasting positive impacts.”
The reforms include raising the delegated project authority threshold from $50 million to $300 million, significantly reducing the bureaucratic hoops lab directors have to jump through. The changes also expand use of the successful “OSHA-Plus” framework for construction projects and eliminate burdensome contract requirements that aren’t mandated by law.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Director Kimberly Budil confirmed the impact, stating the directive “enhances operational efficiency and empowers the National Laboratories to better serve the nation and fulfill our critical missions in national security, science, and energy.”
Major Projects Will Move Forward Faster
Wright’s bold actions are already yielding results at facilities critical to America’s national security and energy future.
At Los Alamos National Laboratory, Director Thom Mason revealed the reforms “will save the federal government tens of millions of dollars on projects at LANL” including the Energetic Materials Characterization facilities and Pajarito Corridor Office Complexes.
Sandia National Laboratories will accelerate its planned $400 million Power Sources Capability project, replacing a 75-year-old structure that serves as the primary research location for power sources within the Nuclear Security Enterprise.
“Streamlined permitting processes could accelerate construction timelines, allowing us to quickly consolidate operations, improve efficiency and better support our employees with a modern and reliable workspace,” explained Sandia Director James Peery.
Even Pantex, which assembles America’s nuclear weapons, expects major benefits once the changes are incorporated.
Taxpayers Win Big
In his Day One Secretarial Order, Wright made it clear that streamlining permitting, removing undue burdens on American energy, and modernizing America’s nuclear stockpile were top priorities.
The laboratories have struggled for years under crushing regulatory burdens that slowed down critical projects and wasted billions in taxpayer dollars.
Wright’s reform package is expected to shift decision-making authority to the appropriate level and reduce unnecessary administrative burdens that have hampered America’s scientific edge.
“We must protect and accelerate the work of the Department’s national laboratory network to secure America’s competitive edge and security,” Wright stated.
The Director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Mike Witherell, echoed this sentiment, calling the reforms “vital to helping the Labs more efficiently and effectively fulfill the national labs’ missions and ensure the U.S. remains the world leader in advanced science and technology.”
The reforms mark a dramatic shift from the Biden administration’s approach, which added layer upon layer of climate-related regulations and approvals, slowing down critical projects.
Wright’s actions deliver on President Trump’s pledge to restore American energy dominance and ensure our national security infrastructure remains the best in the world.
