U.S. Urgently Needs Domestic Enriched Uranium As Full Russian Ban Nears

The United States faces a ticking clock on its nuclear energy supply chain as a total ban on Russian enriched uranium imports is set to take effect in 2028, leaving policymakers scrambling to ramp up domestic production. The Trump administration is accelerating measures to spur domestic enriched uranium output, aiming to break a reliance on Moscow that has quietly underpinned American nuclear reactors for decades. Russia currently supplies roughly 20% of the enriched uranium used by U.S. utilities, a vulnerability that experts say poses significant national security and energy stability risks.

Washington’s urgency stems from the bipartisan Russian Uranium Import Ban Act, signed in 2024, which prohibits imports after a phase-out period ending in 2028. The law included temporary waivers to avoid immediate disruption, but with the deadline now visible, the administration is pushing for concrete domestic alternatives. The Department of Energy has already begun awarding contracts to support the revival of U.S. enrichment capacity, which has remained dormant for years since the closure of plants in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Key players in this push include Centrus Energy, which is developing a new enrichment facility in Ohio, and Urenco, which operates the only commercial enrichment plant in the United States, located near Eunice, New Mexico. The administration has also proposed significant federal funding to accelerate the construction of new centrifuge plants and to support advanced enrichment technologies such as laser isotope separation. Additionally, a renewed emphasis is being placed on recycling nuclear fuel through reprocessing, though that option remains both expensive and politically sensitive.

The ban itself is not merely about energy; it is a strategic weapon. Russia, through its state-owned nuclear company Rosatom, has long used enriched uranium exports as a geopolitical lever. Cutting off that supply is intended to reduce Russia’s influence, but it simultaneously forces the U.S. to confront decades of underinvestment in its own fuel cycle. The Energy Department estimates that restarting domestic enrichment at scale could require at least 10 to 15 years and tens of billions of dollars if begun from scratch, making the 2028 timeline exceptionally tight.

Analysts are divided on whether the United States can achieve true self-sufficiency in enriched uranium that quickly. Some point to HALEU (high-assay low-enriched uranium) for advanced reactors, which has a different supply chain and timeline. Others note that alternative suppliers—such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia—could help fill the gap in the short term. Still, the fundamental challenge remains: building a robust domestic enrichment industry that can supply an entire generation of existing and next-generation nuclear plants.

Looking ahead, the coming two years will be critical. Congress will need to approve additional funding, regulatory barriers must be cleared, and investors must be convinced that the domestic uranium market is stable enough for long-term commitments. The 2028 ban, while absolute, may come with limited waivers for existing contracts. But the direction is clear: the United States is determined to end its dependence on Russian enriched uranium, even if it means a high-stakes race against the clock.