Implementation of Executive Order 14299 Turns Advanced Nuclear Deployment into a U.S. Army Priority

Under Executive Order (EO) 14299, “Deploying Advanced Nuclear Reactor Technologies for National Security,” the U.S. Department of War directed the Army to initiate operation of an Army-regulated reactor no later than September 30, 2028. The Secretary of War designated the Department of the Army as the Executive Agent for carrying out this assignment.

According to the Army’s announcement, the Janus Program represents a significant federal investment in military and national energy capability. Its purpose is to ensure continuous, resilient and secure power that supports mission assurance, readiness and overall defense effectiveness.

According to comments by Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations Jeff Waksman, the Army intends to issue draft Requests for Proposals for the microreactors in a few weeks. The proposed sites for the installations will take longer, as it will require local coordination and stakeholder engagement.

Program Design

Program Authority. The authority for the Janus Program relies on Section 91b of the Atomic Energy Act (42 U.S.C. § 2121(b)), which provides, together with Section 110(b) (42 U.S.C. § 2140(b)), the Army authority to regulate its own nuclear activities and that of its contractors so long as the facility is “for military purposes.” One question that arises is whether the Army can provide power back to the U.S. electrical grid and not just to a military base. Potentially, the Army could use reactors to power adjacent data centers so long as those data centers were under contract with the military and thus “for military purposes,” which Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-NC) alluded to in public statements regarding the program.

Regulatory and Oversight Structure. The Army will coordinate with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to maintain rigorous safety and accountability standards. Together, the Army and DOE intend to establish review and monitoring processes that emphasize transparency and operational integrity throughout the program’s development.

Milestone-Based Contracting. In partnership with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), the Army will employ a contracting method that ties payments to measurable progress milestones. The structure, modeled on NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) approach, is intended to help private developers finance and advance microreactor designs toward repeatable commercial production.

Commercial Operation and Industrial Integration. The planned microreactors will remain under private ownership and operation. The Army will provide technical guidance and support while also facilitating work related to uranium fuel and component manufacturing. These activities are intended to reinforce both national defense readiness and the broader domestic industrial base that underpins advanced nuclear energy.

DOE Partnership and Continuity with Project Pele. The Janus Program builds upon experience gained from Project Pele, a transportable Generation IV microreactor project that is currently under development. Laboratory teams within DOE that contributed to the technical, policy and legal aspects of Project Pele are expected to collaborate again with the Army as the Janus initiative moves forward.

Key Focus Areas

Interagency Coordination. The Janus Program extends long-standing collaboration between DOE and the Army that dates back to early U.S. nuclear research efforts. According to EO 14299, the DOE will provide technical and policy assistance, while the Army will exercise regulatory oversight for the new reactors. The U.S. Department of State will provide advice on any international legal requirements or required modifications to international agreements.

Program Oversight. The Janus Program is being led through the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Jeff Waksman has been identified by the Army as responsible for overseeing the Program’s execution.

Mission Assurance. The Janus Program is designed to deliver stable, reliable energy sources that ensure operational continuity for training, deployment and combat activities, supporting the Army’s overall readiness goals.

Next Steps
The Janus Program introduces a new pathway for industry collaboration with the Department of the Army in the advanced nuclear sector. Companies operating in the energy, technology and defense arenas may find opportunities to:

• Pursue milestone-based contracting awards in partnership with the Army and DIU;
• Participate in commercial microreactor deployment supported by Army technical oversight; and
• Contribute to fuel-cycle and supply-chain projects that underpin energy security and defense modernization.

As implementation proceeds under EO 14299, the Army is expected to formalize its partnership framework with DOE for program oversight and safety coordination, initiate contracting activities using the milestone-based approach developed with DIU, and continue engaging DOE laboratory teams that supported Project Pele.

Pillsbury’s Nuclear Energy and National Security teams are monitoring these developments and are available to assist clients in evaluating participation opportunities, partnership structures and compliance requirements as the Janus Program moves from announcement to execution. Pillsbury also has extensive experience in government contracting, particularly milestone-based payment programs and nuclear indemnities with the U.S. government.

Pillsbury has previously written about the U.S. Army’s nuclear regulatory authority, Project Pele, DIU nuclear programs and the Army’s efforts to update Army Regulation 50-7 on the Army Reactor Program here.