WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump has signed another sweeping executive order aimed at accelerating domestic uranium mining and production, calling it a national security priority. But while the administration promotes the move as a path to “energy dominance,” critics point to the deep environmental, health, and geopolitical risks—including the continued import of uranium from Russia and the historic impact of uranium mining on Native American communities.
The executive order, issued March 20, calls on federal agencies to streamline permitting, prioritize uranium and other minerals on federal lands, and use the Defense Production Act to expand production capacity. It also directs agencies to “compile a list of all mineral production projects” awaiting permits and to coordinate with the National Energy Dominance Council.
“Minerals” named in the order include “critical minerals, uranium, copper, potash, gold, and any other element, compound, or material as determined by the Chair of the NEDC, such as coal,” according to a White House fact sheet.
“President Trump is boosting domestic mineral production to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign minerals, enhance national security, and create jobs,” the statement reads.
Russian uranium still in the supply chain
Despite calls to end reliance on hostile foreign powers, the U.S. remains entangled with Russian uranium suppliers. In 2022, Centrus Energy Corp., the only U.S. company currently licensed to enrich uranium, received a federal waiver allowing it to continue importing low-enriched uranium (LEU) from TENEX, a subsidiary of Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy company Rosatom.
The waiver, approved by the Department of Energy, allows imports through 2028. Centrus uses Russian LEU to support commercial operations while also enriching high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) at its facility in Piketon, under a DOE demonstration contract.
The situation complicates claims of energy independence. As Centrus receives federal support to restart domestic enrichment, its ongoing connection to Rosatom underscores a reliance the executive order does not directly address.
Currently, the company is seeking to expand its operations in Piketon to include full-commercial uranium enrichment.
A dangerous history: uranium mining’s impact on Native communities
Uranium mining in the United States has long been associated with environmental contamination and harm to Indigenous populations, especially in the Southwest. From the 1940s through the Cold War, thousands of uranium mines were developed on or near Native lands, particularly across the Navajo Nation.
Many Navajo miners were not informed of the dangers of radiation exposure, and hundreds died from cancer and lung diseases linked to mining. Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports more than 500 abandoned uranium mines remain on Navajo land. These sites continue to contaminate soil and water.
In 2008, the Navajo Nation banned all uranium mining within its territory. Similar concerns have been raised by other tribes, including the Havasupai and Hopi, regarding mining near sacred lands and aquifers.
Federal cleanup efforts have been slow. The legacy of contamination remains a flashpoint in discussions about restarting uranium production.
Environmental and public health risks remain
Uranium mining and milling produce radioactive waste, including tailings, which can contaminate water sources and emit radon gas. If not properly managed, tailings ponds and dust can spread radioactive particles into nearby communities.
Studies have linked exposure to uranium mining activities with increased risks of cancer, kidney damage, and respiratory illness. In Ohio, residents near the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon have long expressed concerns about contamination and illness tied to legacy uranium enrichment at the site.
Next-gen reactors and the HALEU dilemma
The administration’s renewed focus on uranium supports the growth of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), many of which require HALEU—a more concentrated form of uranium fuel enriched to between 5% and 20% U-235. While touted as a cleaner, scalable alternative to large nuclear plants, SMRs using HALEU raise additional concerns.
HALEU is not considered weapons-grade, but it is closer to the enrichment levels required for a nuclear bomb than conventional reactor fuel. Experts have warned that its increased production could raise nuclear proliferation risks if security measures are not rigorous.
At the Portsmouth site in Piketon, startup OKLO Inc. has proposed building two SMRs, using HALEU fuel enriched on-site by Centrus. The project is under review by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Unanswered questions in the push for uranium
While the Trump administration’s order emphasizes job creation and reduced reliance on foreign minerals, it leaves open critical questions: What safeguards will be implemented to protect public health and the environment? How will communities affected by past mining be protected from renewed activity? And how does reliance on Russian fuel suppliers square with the call for American energy independence?
As plans to revive uranium mining and enrichment accelerate, Native communities, environmental advocates, and nonproliferation experts say the risks cannot be ignored.