The United States has reached another milestone in its push to bring advanced nuclear technology from the drawing board to deployment. Valar Atomics announced that its Ward 250 reactor successfully achieved fueled criticality during testing at the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab in Emery County, Utah. The achievement means the reactor can now sustain a controlled nuclear chain reaction, a key step before any reactor can begin generating electricity.

The test also marks a notable first for the Department of Energy’s Reactor Pilot Program. Ward 250 became the first reactor authorized under the program to reach criticality outside a national laboratory, highlighting the government’s effort to accelerate commercial reactor development. Federal officials described the milestone as another sign that advanced nuclear projects are moving from concept to reality at a faster pace than in previous decades.

Racing toward deployment

The Ward 250 reactor is the second advanced reactor expected to reach criticality under goals established by President Donald Trump’s May 2025 executive order. The order called for multiple advanced reactor demonstrations to achieve criticality before July 4, 2026. Earlier this month, Antares Nuclear reached the same milestone with its Mark-0 reactor at Idaho National Laboratory. Together, the projects represent some of the fastest-moving reactor demonstrations currently underway in the United States.

Moments ago, Valar Atomics took Ward 250 critical for the first time. This fulfills President Trump’s EO 14301, which called for 3 advanced reactors to go critical by July 4th.

This is our second criticality as a company, and an important step toward our goal of power by July 4. pic.twitter.com/ZNVgKSarfV

— Isaiah Taylor – making nuclear reactors (@isaiah_p_taylor) June 18, 2026

Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the achievement reflects growing momentum across the domestic nuclear sector. “Today marks another historic moment for America’s nuclear renaissance,” Wright said.

He pointed to several recent accomplishments, including the first airlift of a small reactor aboard a U.S. military C-17 aircraft. Wright said such milestones demonstrate how quickly advanced nuclear technologies are progressing under current federal initiatives.

Built in nine months

Valar Atomics completed the reactor project in less than a year. According to founder and CEO Isaiah Taylor, the site was empty nine months ago. “Today, there’s a critical reactor on it, built and operated by the Valar team,” Taylor said.

The company developed Ward 250 as a power-producing reactor rather than a laboratory experiment. Achieving criticality confirms that the design can sustain the nuclear reactions required for future energy production.

Taylor credited support from the Department of Energy, Utah state officials, local communities, and project partners for helping the company meet its development goals.

New path for reactors

The Department of Energy launched the Reactor Pilot Program to shorten development timelines for first-of-a-kind advanced reactors. The initiative uses existing DOE authority to authorize reactor demonstrations while developers continue working toward commercial licensing pathways.

Officials view the program as a way to reduce barriers that have historically slowed nuclear innovation in the United States. Building on the program’s early progress, the Department recently introduced the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad. The effort aims to further accelerate testing, validation, and deployment of advanced reactor technologies.

The Reactor Pilot Program ultimately seeks to bring at least three advanced reactor concepts to criticality outside national laboratories. Federal officials believe the approach can help restore U.S. leadership in nuclear energy while expanding access to reliable, around-the-clock power generation.

The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has demonstrated a laser system that can both transmit power wirelessly and defend against aerial threats, marking a significant step toward more flexible battlefield energy solutions.

The test showed that a single directed-energy platform can perform two critical military functions without requiring separate equipment. Researchers beamed power across an airfield to a remote location and then quickly switched the same system to engage a simulated drone threat.

The demonstration received support from the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment and the Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund. NRL worked alongside Boeing, the Army’s DEVCOM Ground Vehicle Systems Center, and stakeholders from the Navy, Marine Corps, and Army.

The project aims to reduce dependence on fuel-based power systems while expanding the operational capabilities of deployed forces.

Power without fuel

During the demonstration, a trailer-mounted laser transmitted energy from a standard military vehicle to specialized receivers positioned at a distant site. The setup delivered power without physical cables or traditional fuel logistics.

Researchers focused on practical battlefield conditions rather than controlled laboratory environments. The team conducted testing in harsh weather, including strong winds and heavy snowfall.

According to NRL Electrical Engineer Alex Grede, the goal was to evaluate how the technology could function during real military operations. “We demonstrated that the same laser used to beam power remotely can immediately transition to counter a drone threat,” Grede said.

The ability to deliver power over distance could eventually help military units operate in remote locations with fewer fuel convoys and generators.

Built for the field

Unlike previous power-beaming demonstrations that took place under ideal conditions, the NRL team deliberately exposed the system to environmental challenges.

Researchers continued collecting data even as visibility deteriorated during severe winter weather. The results will help engineers refine the technology for future deployments. NRL Research Physicist Justin Lorentzen said realistic testing provides valuable information that laboratory experiments cannot replicate.

The team wants to understand how atmospheric interference affects performance. That data will guide future improvements and increase reliability in operational settings.

Engineers also demonstrated field maintainability during the event. The team repaired a critical component on-site and quickly returned the system to operation.

Lt. Cmdr. Brian Di Salvo, NRL Radar Division military deputy, said military systems must remain simple to operate and easy to repair. He noted that both qualities are essential for deployment in demanding environments.

Expanding military applications

The laser platform used during the test already serves the U.S. Marine Corps in directed-energy roles. Researchers integrated it with high-efficiency solar receivers and mobile vehicle power sources to create a distributed energy network.

Army requirements helped shape many aspects of the field demonstration. Officials see strong potential for expeditionary missions where reducing fuel consumption can improve both logistics and survivability.

Grede said collaboration across military branches could accelerate adoption of the technology. While NRL continues development for naval applications, the Army could become one of the first services to field the capability.

The next phase will place the system directly in front of Marines, Soldiers, and Sailors. Researchers plan to gather operational feedback and refine the technology based on how troops would use it in the field.

The effort forms part of NRL’s broader push to develop scalable directed-energy systems that strengthen battlefield resilience and extend the reach of U.S. forces.

Sen. Bernie Sanders has unveiled a proposal that would give Americans a direct financial stake in the country’s booming artificial intelligence industry. The Vermont independent introduced legislation Thursday that would create a national sovereign wealth fund tied to major AI companies. Under the proposal, the federal government would hold a 50% ownership stake in qualifying AI firms and distribute annual payments to U.S. citizens.

Sanders argues that today’s AI systems rely heavily on content, knowledge, and creative works produced by generations of people. Because AI companies benefit from that collective human output, he says the public should share in the industry’s financial gains. The legislation, called the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act, comes as lawmakers debate how to regulate AI and address concerns about wealth concentration in the technology sector.

Public stake in AI

The proposal would apply to AI companies generating more than $200 million in annual revenue. Those firms would become subject to a system that grants the public a significant ownership interest through a federally managed investment fund. Sanders estimates the fund could reach a value of roughly $7 trillion based on current valuations of leading U.S. AI developers.

The future of AI must not be decided behind closed doors by billionaires seeking to maximize their power and profit.

It should be decided by the American people.

That's why I'm introducing the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act. pic.twitter.com/sbC0YMT90f

— Sen. Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) June 18, 2026

The senator says the structure would allow Americans to benefit directly from one of the fastest-growing industries in the economy. He projects that citizens could initially receive annual payments of around $1,000. Those payouts could increase as the AI sector expands.

Speaking to reporters, Sanders said the payments would likely grow if AI companies continue generating larger profits. He also suggested future revenue could help support public priorities such as healthcare, education, and housing.

Collective value argument

At the center of the proposal is Sanders’ belief that AI companies derive value from information created by society as a whole. The legislation argues that AI models train on vast amounts of human-created material, including books, journalism, software code, scientific research, artwork, videos, and other forms of knowledge.

Sanders contends that a small group of technology executives now captures most of the economic benefits generated from those resources. Supporters of the measure compare AI to publicly owned natural resources. In that view, companies extracting value from a shared asset should return a portion of that wealth to the public.

Model draws from funds

The bill takes inspiration from sovereign wealth funds already operating across the United States and around the world. States such as Texas and New Mexico have long used investment funds supported by natural resource revenues to finance public programs, particularly education. Dozens of countries, including Norway, China, and the United Arab Emirates, also operate sovereign wealth funds that manage public assets and investments.

If Congress approves the legislation, a seven-member independent commission would oversee the fund. The president would nominate commissioners, while the Senate would confirm them.

The commission would represent public interests in qualifying AI companies and manage the government’s ownership stake. While the proposal faces significant political hurdles, it adds a new dimension to the growing debate over who should benefit from the economic gains created by artificial intelligence.