Deployable Energy’s Unity reactor achieved criticality at Idaho National Laboratory on Tuesday, marking the third advanced reactor to reach the milestone within a single month and fulfilling a key objective in the Trump administration’s nuclear energy agenda.

The achievement came as the Department of Energy announced the reactor’s operational status. Two of the three advanced reactors that reached criticality in recent weeks are located at Idaho National Laboratory, underscoring the facility’s central role in the nation’s advanced nuclear development strategy.

Trump’s Nuclear Goals

The milestone aligns with a deadline President Trump established in his May 2025 executive orders directing the deployment of advanced nuclear reactors. Trump had set July 4, 2026, as the target date for achieving criticality in three pilot reactors—a goal state and federal officials say has now been met ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday.

Lieutenant Governor Scott Bedke, Idaho’s 44th lieutenant governor and former long-serving Speaker of the House, framed the development as evidence of Idaho’s energy leadership. “President Trump set a goal, and Idaho delivered. Three advanced reactors reaching criticality in a single month, with two of them at the Idaho National Laboratory, is proof that Idaho is the workhorse behind unleashing American energy dominance,” Bedke said in a statement released July 1.

Idaho’s Position in Advanced Nuclear Energy

Idaho National Laboratory has long served as the primary federal site for advanced reactor research and development. The facility’s success in bringing multiple advanced reactors to operational status within weeks reflects years of engineering work and federal investment in next-generation nuclear technology.

Bedke emphasized the symbolic importance of the achievement as the nation prepares Independence Day celebrations. “As our nation marks its 250th birthday, Idaho is showing what American energy leadership looks like in action,” he said.

The Unity reactor represents one of several advanced reactor designs being deployed under the Trump administration’s broader strategy to expand nuclear energy capacity and reduce dependence on other energy sources. Advanced reactors, which operate at smaller scales than conventional nuclear plants and use different cooling systems, have been proposed as a solution to meet growing electricity demand while maintaining reliable power generation.

Next Steps

The reactor’s achievement of criticality—the state in which a nuclear chain reaction becomes self-sustaining—marks a significant operational milestone but is not the final stage of deployment. Further testing and regulatory approvals typically follow before commercial operation begins.

The convergence of this achievement with the approaching Fourth of July and Trump’s stated deadline suggests federal officials view the moment as validation of the administration’s nuclear energy priorities. State officials, particularly those leading economic development efforts in Idaho, have positioned the state as a key partner in the administration’s energy agenda.