President Donald J. Trump Approves Utah Disaster Declaration

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 12, 2021 President Donald J. Trump Approves Utah Disaster Declaration   Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Utah and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by straight-line winds from September 7 to September 8, 2020.    Federal funding is available to State, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the straight-line winds in the counties of Salt Lake, Weber, Davis, and Morgan.   Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.   Pete Gaynor, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Kenneth G. Clark as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.    Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the State and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.   FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.

President Donald J. Trump Approves Louisiana Disaster Declaration

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 12, 2021

President Donald J. Trump Approves Louisiana Disaster Declaration   Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Louisiana and ordered Federal assistance to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Zeta from October 26 to October 29, 2020.   The President’s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in the parishes of Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and Terrebonne.   Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.   Federal funding also is available to State, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for debris removal in the parishes of Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and St. Charles.   Federal funding is also available to State, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency protective measures in the parishes of Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Assumption, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Vermilion, Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana.   Finally, Federal funding is available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.   Pete Gaynor, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named John E. Long as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected areas.    Additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the State and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.   Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated parishes can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.   FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.

Bill Announcement

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 12, 2021 On Tuesday, January 12, 2021, the President signed into law:       S. 4996, the “Bankruptcy Administration Improvement Act of 2020,” which establishes a Chapter 7 Trustee Fund to make additional payments to bankruptcy trustees and extends certain temporary bankruptcy judgeships.

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP AT THE 450TH MILE OF NEW BORDER WALL

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 12, 2021

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP AT THE 450TH MILE OF NEW BORDER WALL   Mexico–United States Border Reynosa–McAllen, Texas     2:10 P.M. CST        THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you very much.  Thank you, everybody.  Great honor to be here.  We worked long and hard.  Please sit down.  We’ve worked long and hard to get this done.  They said it couldn't be done, and we got it done.  One of the largest infrastructure projects in the history of our country.         I'm honored to be here in the Rio Grande Valley with the courageous men and women of Customs and Border Patrol.  These people are incredible.  They're really incredible.  I've gotten to know you very well over the last four years.  Many of you are friends from all of the work we did in designing the wall.  We got it exactly as you wanted it -- everything -- including your protective plate on top.  I’d say, “Why did we put that?”  And they said, “We need it for extra protection.”  Climb plate.  And we have everything you want.  It's steel.  It's concrete inside the steel.  And then it's rebar -- a lot of heavy rebar inside the concrete.  And it's as strong as you're going to get and strong as you can have.  But we gave you 100 percent of what you wanted.  So now you have no excuses.  I didn't want you to have any excuses.  (Laughter.)        And you set records.  And we can't let the next administration even think about taking it down, if you can believe that.  I don't think that will happen.  I think when you see what it does and how it's so important for our country, nobody is going to be touching it.  And you are very proud of it, and you're proud of the work you did, because we really designed it together.         We're joined together to celebrate a great achievement: the extraordinarily successful building of the wall on the southern border.         Before we begin, I'd like to say that free speech is under assault like never before.  The 25th Amendment is of zero risk to me but will come back to haunt Joe Biden and the Biden administration.  As the expression goes: Be careful what you wish for.  The impeachment hoax is a continuation of the greatest and most vicious witch hunt in the history of our country, and it is causing tremendous anger and division and pain -- far greater than most people will ever understand, which is very dangerous for the USA, especially at this very tender time.        And now I'd like to briefly address the events of last week.  Millions of our citizens watched on Wednesday as a mob stormed the Capitol and trashed the halls of government.  As I have consistently said throughout my administration, we believe in respecting America's history and traditions, not tearing them down.  We believe in the rule of law, not in violence or rioting.         Because of the pandemic -- horrible, horrible invisible enemy -- and despite our tremendous success developing a vaccine years before it was thought evenly remotely possible.  Nobody thought it was going to be possible.  They said would take five years.  “Sir, it will take seven years.”  All of our scientists were saying -- our advisors, “It will take 7 years, 5 years, 10 years maybe.”  Well, we did it just like I said we would.  And we had it out years and years before they thought it was possible.  And we're now delivering it to states, including your state, where your governor and government are doing a terrific job in getting it administered in Texas.  And Florida is doing great.  Some of them are doing great.  Some aren't doing as well, but they have all they can handle.  And we get it to them as fast as they need it, and even faster.        But they're calling it a “medical miracle.”  And this has been a difficult year and a very difficult election.  The pandemic has made it a very, very difficult year for our country and virtually every country all over the world.         Now is the time for our nation to heal, and it's time for peace and for calm.  Respect for law enforcement and the great people within law enforcement -- so many are here -- is the foundation of the MAGA agenda.  And we're a nation of law, and we're a nation of order.  That is why we're here today, to talk about what we must do to uphold the rule of law in America and how we must continue to support our law enforcement heroes, which is exactly what you are.  Do you feel like a hero?  Yeah, I think you do.  Right?  (Applause.)  You do and you are.         I want to thank Customs and Border Patrol Commissioner Mark Morgan, who's been incredible.  Where is Mark?  Mark?  Stand up, Mark.  Great job.  Fantastic.  (Applause.)        Chief Patrol Agent Brian Hastings.  Brian, thank you very much.  Great job.  (Applause.)  He's so happy with it.  He said, “Sir, this really works.”         And most importantly, the brave law enforcement officers who risk their lives every day to protect our families and our country.         I also want to thank a tremendous gentleman, a friend of mine, Tom Homan.  He’s a great American patriot, and he was with us right from the beginning.  (Applause.)  Right, Tom?  You knew exactly -- he said, “We need a wall,” when they were saying, “No, no, we need drones.  We need drones.”  I said, “Why?  So you can watch the people pour into our country illegally?”  And I want to thank you very much, Tom.  What a -- what a professional job you've done.         All of you people, incredible.  Everyone here today is part of an incredible success story.  This is a real success story.        When I took office, we inherited a broken, dysfunctional, and open border.  Everybody was pouring in at will.        Working alongside the heroes in this great outdoor space, looking at our wall, we reformed our immigration system and achieved the most secure southern border in U.S. history.  It is at a level that it's never been before.         We took on the cartels, the coyotes, and the special interests, and we restored the rule of law.  For years, politicians ran for office promising to secure the border, only to get elected and to do the absolute exact opposite.  They even promised a wall.  If you remember, about 10 years ago, they promised a wall but they couldn't get it built.  It wasn't easy getting it built.  Getting it financed was tough.  Getting it built was even tougher.  All the different chains of title and all the different things we had to go through -- very, very complex and very difficult, but we got it done.  But they had it years ago.  You remember that better than anybody.  Right?  And they never got it done.  They never, ever completed the task.  And then, ultimately, the money was sent back to the federal government.  Spent, but no wall was built.         But unlike those who came before me, I kept my promises.  And today we celebrate an extraordinary milestone: the completion of the promised 450 miles of border wall.  Four hundred and fifty miles.  Nobody realizes how big that is.  (Applause.)        I remember when I first came down, about a year and a half ago: We're under construction, and I started walking, and I'm looking at the wall, and I'm walking and walking.  And I'm used to, like, a development project where you could walk a wall.  You know, 10 acres, 5 acres, 2 acres, 1 acre.  Then I realized that’s a long time; that’s a big walk.  A lot of it -- a lot of the wall you have is incredibly natural.  It’s -- you have the mountains.  You have the rivers.  You have some very powerful water areas.  You have some areas that are virtually impossible to get by.  So we didn't need walls everywhere, but where we needed them -- because it's been so successful that we've added nearly 300 miles.  And that's currently under construction.  This was our original wish: to get these areas done where it was such trouble.  And now we have it.  It's either in construction or pre-construction -- an additional 300 miles.        In every region that we've built the wall, illegal crossings and drug smuggling have plummeted.  Absolutely plummeted.  In the Rio Grande Valley, crossings have dropped nearly 80 percent.  In Yuma, Arizona, illegal entries have been slashed by 90 percent.  Nationwide, ICE and Border Patrol have seized over 2 million pounds of fentanyl, heroin, meth, and other deadly narcotics, saving thousands and thousands of lives.         We've arrested nearly 500,000 illegal aliens with criminal records -- some with very serious criminal records of the type you don't want to know about, like murder.         We removed nearly 20,000 gang members from the United States, including 4,500 members of MS-13 -- probably the worst gang of them all.  Through the landmark reforms we've put into place, we have ended the immigration chaos and reestablished American sovereignty.  Our most important reform was ending catch and release -- not easy to do; you're dealing with Congress; it's very, very difficult -- which is the functional equivalent of open borders, but even worse: It's catch and release them.  It means release into our country, not into another country.         This policy was exploited by vicious criminal organizations, who understood the laws better than our people understood them for years, to spread misery and suffering and drugs all across the hemisphere.         Now, instead of “catch and release,” we have “detain and remove.”  It's called “detain and remove.”  Doesn't that sound better?  One of the biggest loopholes we closed was asylum fraud.  Under the old, broken system, if you merely requested asylum, you were released into the country.  The most ridiculous thing anyone has ever seen.  And we were taking in some people that you didn't want to have in your country.        We instituted a series of historic policy changes to shut down asylum fraud, and that's what we did.  This includes the groundbreaking agreement with Mexico known as the “Migrant Protection Protocols,” or MPP.         Under this agreement, if an illegal alien requests asylum, they have to wait in Mexico until their case is heard.  They used to wait here.  And when they were waiting, they would say “bye-bye,” and they'd disappear somewhere into our country, and essentially we’d never find them again, would never see them again.         This one measure alone ended a humanitarian crisis and saved countless lives, and especially, I have to say, lives from crime.        I want to thank the great President of Mexico.  He is a great gentleman, a friend of mine.  And President Obrador -- he is a man who really knows what's happening.  And he loves his country, and he also loves the United States.  But I want to thank for his friendship and his professional working relationship.        We actually had 27,000 Mexican soldiers guarding our borders over the last two years.  Nobody thought that was possible.  And they made it very, very difficult, and that's why the numbers were able to plunge, even during the construction of the wall.        And, by the way, one of the big elements of the wall that make it so successful is we can have far fewer people working.  Now, they can be working on other things -- other things related to crime and drug prevention and a lot of other elements they're working on, because we saved massive numbers of people.  And included here we have the most sophisticated camera systems and most sophisticated electronic systems anywhere in the world.         We implemented three historic agreements with the Northern Triangle; that's Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.  Under these critical asylum cooperation agreements, the burden of illegal immigration is now shared all across the region.  Now, when an illegal immigrant is arrested at our border, they can be sent to a neighboring country instead of into a U.S. community.         Prior to my getting here, countries wouldn't accept them.  They would say, “No, no, no.”  I said, “Well, you got to take them.”  First month -- I'll never forget -- these gentlemen, right here, came to me.  They said, “They won't take them back.”        They came.  They may be murderers.  They may be cartel heads.  They may be some really vicious people.  The countries didn't want them back.  And I stopped all payments to those countries.  I stopped everything going to those countries.  And after it was stopped for about a month -- you remember? -- after it was stopped for about a month, they called.  They said, “We'd love to have them back.”  And I never gave them as much money as they were getting, by the way, but they got some.  (Applause.) It was amazing.         And you people know better than anyone: They wouldn't take them back.  We’d have planes flying over, loaded up with people that we didn't want here.  And they’d say, “Don't ever even think about landing that plane.”  And they’d take them by boat, and they’d take them by bus, and they wouldn't let them into their countries.  And all of a sudden, they say, “Welcome back.  We love having you.”        So it was a great thing.  And now they do take them back.  And the relationship with those countries -- the Triangle -- the relationship is a much better one than it was before.         In addition to our agreements with Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, we have systematically reformed the regulatory code to return asylum to its original legal meaning and purpose -- not a free ticket for entry.         A recent comprehensive report by the Department of Homeland Security and Justice show how effective our reforms have been and how disastrous their removal would be.  It would be a disaster for our country.  I know they're thinking about removing them.  I hope they don't do that.  I hope they don't do that.  It'll be a absolute travesty for our country.        The report conclusively proves, once and for all, that aliens released at the border remain at large in the country and do not return home.  They won't go home.  And you rarely find them.  It's very tough to find them.         So we have aliens released in our country, many of whom are serious criminals.  And we've stopped that.  Don't ever start that process again.  By contrast, under our policies, 98 percent of aliens that remain in DHS custody are removed.  Simply put, if you enter the United States illegally, you are apprehended and immediately safely removed from our country.  Without this core principle, there is no border, there is no law, there is no order.         My administration also instituted vital public health measures on the border.  In response to the China virus, under Title 42 of the U.S. Code, illegal immigrants are being promptly removed to protect the health of border agents, other migrants, and local communities, and the public at large.  Removing these protections would invite a public health catastrophe of epic proportions.         As you probably know, in Tijuana, various parts of Mexico, the COVID -- it’s got about 24 names I can call it, from “COVID” to “China virus.”  I can call it the “plague.”  I call it the “China plague.”  A lot of different names.  But we always call it the “invisible enemy.”  But the invisible enemy has been very tough on Mexico, and we have areas along the border where we’re in great shape because right there, because of that, that we’re in great shape.  But on the other side, in Mexico, they’re suffering greatly with the virus.  It’s been incredible what we’ve achieved.  And we didn’t do the wall because of COVID; we did the wall because of security and drugs and other things.  But it turned out that, in the middle of it all, along came this horrible plague.        We inherited a dangerously lawless border.  The people that work here are unbelievably brave.  I’ve seen what they have to endure, what they have to go through.  They’re tough, they’re strong, and they’re great patriots, great Americans.        We fixed it and we secured it.  We empowered our wonderful ICE and Border Patrol to fulfill their oaths and sworn officers.  They became sworn officers of the law.  And they love their job.  It’s a tough job.  It’s a nasty job.  They’re not paid what they should be paid, to be honest, but we got you up.  We got you up.  But these are incredibly talented people that could probably do a lot better, in terms of economics, than they do here.  But they love what they do, and they love their country.        We also put into place vital measures to protect American workers, keep out terrorists, and stop the abuse of our welfare system -- where they’d come up, go on our welfare system, and live for years on American welfare without ever having a job.         We also have, and we had -- but we have them all the time -- we have terrorists from the Middle East coming into our country through the southern border.  That was before what you see right here, because it was easier to come into our country through the southern border than it was through airports or any other means.  So they’d land in South America, and they’d work their way up, and they’d come into our country.  And these are not people from the countries that you would suspect.  These are people from some very seriously dangerous places in the Middle East.  And the numbers are far greater than anybody would understand.  Really far greater.        Removing any of these measures would hamstring our workers, endanger our country, and cost taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars a year.        No matter our party, we should all agree on the need to protect our workers, our families, and our citizens of all backgrounds, no matter who they are.  In particular, if our border security measures are reversed, it will trigger a tidal wave of illegal immigration -- a wave like you've never seen before.  And I can tell you that, already, waves are starting to come up from 2,000 and 1,000 and 500 miles away.  We see what's coming.         And they're coming because they think that it's gravy train at the end; it's going to be a gravy train.  Change the name from the “caravans,” which I think we came up with, to the “gravy train,” because that's what they're looking for -- looking for the gravy.        This will be an unmitigated calamity for national security, public safety, and public health.  It would destroy millions and millions of jobs and claim thousands of innocent lives.  The policies I put into place are uniformly and strongly supported by the men and women of ICE and Border Patrol.  We worked on them together, just like we did on the wall.  We worked on the policies together because nobody knows this whole world better than the incredible people right in front of me.  To terminate those policies is knowingly to put America in really serious danger and to override the great career experts that have worked so hard -- those from DHS.         At this very moment, smugglers and coyotes are preparing to surge the border if our policies are loosened or removed.  I mean, they’re literally waiting -- big, big groups of people.  Some of them very unsavory, I might add.        This is an entirely preventable tragedy.  It’s waiting to happen.  The safety of our nation must come before politics.  We have many disagreements in the country, but we should all agree: the urgent need to secure our borders, protect our homeland, and allow law enforcement to fulfill its mission without political interference.         ICE and Border Patrol agents swore a sacred oath to uphold the law, and no political appointee should ever order them to violate that oath.  These are real experts.  They really get it.        And I'll tell you who else gets it: The Hispanic population of our country gets it.  Because not only did I win Texas in historic numbers, but I won border towns, which are largely Hispanic, and people were amazed to see that.  And the numbers, they say, were -- the Governor of Texas called -- Greg -- great guy, great governor -- called.  He said, “You had numbers that nobody has had since Reconstruction.  “Reconstruction” means “Civil War.”  And largely Hispanic.  They understand it better than anybody, and they want law enforcement to help them -- help them live safe lives.        The laws that Congress passed must be upheld.  To the men and women of ICE, Customs and Border Protection, and all across DHS, law enforcement in general: You have earned the everlasting gratitude of our nation.  You have no idea how much our nation loves you and respects you.  I don't think you do have an idea, but it's true.  I only hope and pray that your voice will be heard, honored, heeded, and respected long into the future.        God bless you.  God bless law enforcement.  And God bless America.  Thank you very much.  Thank you.  Great job.  (Applause.)                                       END              2:31 P.M. CST

Remarks by President Trump Before Air Force One Departure | Joint Base Andrews, MD

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 12, 2021 REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP BEFORE AIR FORCE ONE DEPARTURE   Joint Base Andrews Prince George’s County, Maryland         10:27 A.M. EST        THE PRESIDENT:  I think that big tech is doing a horrible thing for our country and to our country.  And I believe it’s going to be a catastrophic mistake for them.  They're dividing and divisive, and they're showing something that I've been predicting for a long time.  I've been predicting it for a long time, and people didn’t act on it.         But I think big tech has made a terrible mistake, and very, very bad for our country.  And that’s leading others to do the same thing, and it causes a lot of problems and a lot of danger.  Big mistake.  They shouldn’t be doing it.  But there's always a counter move when they do that.  I've never seen such anger as I see right now, and that’s a terrible thing.  Terrible thing.        And you have to always avoid violence.  And we have -- we have tremendous support.        Q    What is your role, sir?        THE PRESIDENT:  We have support probably like nobody has ever seen before.  Always have to avoid violence.        Q    Mr. President, what is your role in what happened at the Capitol?  What is your personal responsibility?        THE PRESIDENT:  So if you read my speech -- and many people have done it, and I've seen it both in the papers and in the media, on television -- it’s been analyzed, and people thought that what I said was totally appropriate.         And if you look at what other people have said -- politicians at a high level -- about the riots during the summer, the horrible riots in Portland and Seattle, in various other -- other places, that was a real problem -- what they said.         But they’ve analyzed my speech and words and my final paragraph, my final sentence, and everybody, to the T, thought it was totally appropriate.        Okay, thank you.  Thank you.                                     END             10:29 A.M. EST

Remarks by President Trump Before Marine One Departure

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 12, 2021 REMARKS BY PRESIDENT TRUMP BEFORE MARINE ONE DEPARTURE   South Lawn     10:09 A.M. EST        THE PRESIDENT:  So, we're going to Texas.  We're going to the southern border.  As you know, we've completed the wall.  They may want to expand it.  We have the expansion underway.  It's been tremendously successful, far beyond what anyone thought.  We’re stopping, in large numbers, the drugs coming into the country for many, many years and decades.  We're stopping a lot of illegal immigration.  Our numbers have been very good.        There does seem to be a surge now because people are coming up.  Some caravans are starting to form because they think there's going to be a lot in it for them if they're able to get through, but we're able to stop it.  The wall has made a tremendous difference.  I think some of you are coming with me.  But the wall has made a tremendous difference on the southern border.        As far as this is concerned, we want no violence.  Never violence.  We want absolutely no violence.         And on the impeachment, it's really a continuation of the greatest witch hunt in the history of politics.  It's ridiculous.  It's absolutely ridiculous.         This impeachment is causing tremendous anger, and you're doing it, and it's really a terrible thing that they're doing.  For Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer to continue on this path, I think it's causing tremendous danger to our country and it's causing tremendous anger.  I want no violence.        Thank you very much.  Thank you.                           END                10:11 A.M. EST

Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding Small Modular Reactors for National Defense and Space Exploration

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 12, 2021 Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding Small Modular Reactors for National Defense and Space Exploration Today, President Trump is issuing an Executive Order on Promoting Small Modular Reactors for National Defense and Space Exploration, which will further revitalize the United States nuclear energy sector, reinvigorate America's space exploration program, and produce diverse energy options for national defense needs.  The United States has used transportable nuclear reactors for nearly 70 years for functions like propelling aircraft carriers through the sea and enabling submarines to stay underwater for long periods of time.  Using small modular reactors for national defense and space exploration will allow the United States to maintain and advance our leadership and dominance across space and terrestrial domains.  Small modular reactors have the potential to enhance energy flexibility and energy security at domestic military installations in remote locations.  At President Trump’s direction, the Department of Defense will establish and implement a plan to demonstrate the energy flexibility and cost effectiveness of a small modular reactor at a domestic military installation, and will pilot a transportable small modular reactor for a mission other than naval propulsion for the first time in half a century.   Nuclear power sources are essential to deep space exploration, where solar power is not practical.  The sustainable exploration of the Moon, Mars, and other locations will be enhanced by small modular reactors deployed from Earth for operations across the solar system.  NASA will explore the use of nuclear energy systems for human and robotic exploration missions through 2040.  As the United States develops new technology, we will continue to adhere to the highest standards for nuclear nonproliferation and safety. President Trump is committed to ensuring the safety and prosperity of the American people and industry.  This Order advances that commitment through continued United States leadership in research and technology, innovation, energy development, and advanced technology.

Executive Order on Promoting Small Modular Reactors for National Defense and Space Exploration

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 12, 2021 EXECUTIVE ORDER   - - - - - - -   PROMOTING SMALL MODULAR REACTORS FOR NATIONAL DEFENSE AND SPACE EXPLORATION          By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:       Section 1.  Purpose.  Nuclear energy is critical to United States national security.  That is why I have taken a series of actions to promote its development and facilitate its use.  On June 29, 2017, I announced an initiative to revive and expand the nuclear energy sector and directed a complete review of United States nuclear energy policy to help find new ways to revitalize this crucial energy resource.  On July 12, 2019, I signed a Presidential Memorandum entitled "The Effect of Uranium Imports on the National Security and Establishment of the United States Nuclear Fuel Working Group," with the goal of examining the current state of domestic nuclear fuel production and reinvigorating the nuclear fuel supply chain, consistent with United States national security and nonproliferation goals.  On August 20, 2019, I signed National Security Presidential Memorandum-20, entitled "Launch of Spacecraft Containing Space Nuclear Systems," calling for development and use of space nuclear systems to enable or enhance space exploration and operational capabilities.        The purpose of this order is to take an important additional step to revitalize the United States nuclear energy sector, reinvigorate America's space exploration program, and develop diverse energy options for national defense needs.  Under this action, the United States Government will coordinate its nuclear activities to apply the benefits of nuclear energy most effectively toward American technology supremacy, including the use of small modular reactors for national defense and space exploration.  This work is critical to advancing my Administration's priorities for the United States to lead in research, technology, invention, innovation, and advanced technology development; its mission to promote and protect the United States national security innovation base; its drive to secure energy dominance; and its commitment to achieving all of these goals in a manner consistent with the highest nuclear nonproliferation standards.       The United States was the first nation to invent and develop the technology to harness nuclear energy.  Since the 1950s, the United States Navy has been operating and advancing transportable nuclear reactors, resulting in powerfully enhanced marine propulsion for its aircraft carriers and allowing nuclear-powered submarines to remain submerged for extended periods of time.        The United States must sustain its ability to meet the energy requirements for its national defense and space exploration initiatives.  The ability to use small modular reactors will help maintain and advance United States dominance and strategic leadership across the space and terrestrial domains.      Sec. 2.  Policy.  It is the policy of the United States to promote advanced reactor technologies, including small modular reactors, to support defense installation energy flexibility and energy security, and for use in space exploration, guided by the following principles:       (a)  A healthy and robust nuclear energy industry is critical to the national security, energy security, and economic prosperity of the United States;        (b)  The United States should maintain technology supremacy for nuclear research and development, manufacturing proficiency, and security and safety; and      (c)  The United States Government should bolster national defense and space exploration capabilities and enable private-sector innovation of advanced reactor technologies.        Sec. 3.  Demonstration of Commercial Reactors to Enhance Energy Flexibility at a Defense Installation.  (a)  Micro-reactors have the potential to enhance energy flexibility and energy security at domestic military installations in remote locations.  Accordingly, the Secretary of Defense shall, within 180 days of the date of this order, establish and implement a plan to demonstrate the energy flexibility capability and cost effectiveness of a Nuclear Regulatory Commission-licensed micro‑reactor at a domestic military installation.       (b)  If the demonstration is successful, the Secretary of Defense shall identify opportunities at domestic military installations where this capability could enhance or supplement the fulfillment of installation energy requirements.  In identifying these opportunities, the Secretary of Defense shall take into account considerations that are unique to national defense needs and requirements that may not be relevant in the private sector, such as:             (i)    the ability to provide resilient, independent energy delivery to installations in the event that connections to an electrical grid are compromised;           (ii)   the ability to operate for an extended period of time without refueling;           (iii)  system resistance to disruption from an electro‑magnetic pulse event; and           (iv)   system cybersecurity requirements.      Sec. 4.  Defense Capabilities.  (a)  The Department of Defense is one of the largest consumers of energy in the world, using more than 10 million gallons of fuel per day and 30,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year, nearly all of which is provided through civilian electrical grids.  Fuel demands for a modern United States military have dramatically grown since World War II and are anticipated to continue to increase in order to support high-energy-usage military systems.  In this context, nuclear power could significantly enhance national defense power capabilities.        (b)  The Secretary of Defense shall, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Energy, and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA Administrator):              (i)    determine whether advanced nuclear reactors can be made to benefit Department of Defense future space power needs;             (ii)   pilot a transportable micro-reactor prototype;             (iii)  direct an analysis of alternatives for personnel, regulatory, and technical requirements to inform future decisions with respect to nuclear power usage; and             (iv)   direct an analysis of United States military uses for space nuclear power and propulsion technologies and an analysis of foreign adversaries' space power and propulsion programs.        Sec. 5.  Space Exploration.  (a)  Nuclear power sources that use uranium fuel or plutonium heat sources are essential to deep space exploration and in areas where solar power is not practical.  NASA uses radioisotope power systems, such as radioisotope thermoelectric generators and radioisotope heater units, to provide power and heat for deep space robotic missions.  Nuclear power sources in the kilowatt range may be needed for demonstrating In-situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) and robotic exploration of permanently shadowed craters on the Moon that contain frozen water.  Nuclear reactors up to 100 kilowatts may be needed to support human habitats, ISRU, other facilities, and rovers on both the Moon and Mars.  Power sources in the megawatt range would be necessary for efficient, long‑duration deep space propulsion.  Affordable, lightweight nuclear power sources in space would enable new opportunities for scientific discovery.  The sustainable exploration of the Moon, Mars, and other locations will be enhanced if small modular reactors can be deployed and operated remotely from Earth.       (b)  Within 180 days of the date of this order, the NASA Administrator, in consultation with heads of other executive departments and agencies (agencies), as appropriate, shall define requirements for NASA utilization of nuclear energy systems for human and robotic exploration missions through 2040 and analyze the costs and benefits of such requirements.  In defining these requirements, the NASA Administrator shall take into account considerations unique to the utilization of nuclear energy systems in space, such as:             (i) transportability of a reactor prior to and after deployment;           (ii) thermal management in a reduced- or zero-gravity environment in a vacuum or near-vacuum;           (iii) fluid transfer within reactor systems in a reduced or zero-gravity environment;             (iv)    reactor size and mass that can be launched from Earth and assembled in space;             (v)     cooling of nuclear reactors in space;             (vi) electric power requirements;             (vii)   space safety rating to enable operations as part of human space exploration missions;              (viii)  period of time for which a reactor can operate without refueling; and             (ix)    conditioning of reactor components for use in the space environment.        Sec. 6.  Domestic Fuel Supply.  (a)  A thriving and secure domestic nuclear fuel supply chain is critical to the national interests of the United States.  A viable domestic nuclear fuel supply chain not only supports defense and national security activities, but also enables the success of the commercial nuclear industry.  Many advanced reactor concepts, however, will require high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU), for which no domestic commercial enrichment capability currently exists.  The United States must take steps to ensure a viable United States-origin HALEU supply.        (b)  The Secretary of Energy shall complete the Department of Energy's ongoing 3-year, $115 million demonstration of a United States-origin enrichment technology capable of producing HALEU for use in defense-related advanced reactor applications.  Within funding available for the demonstration project, the Secretary of Energy should develop a plan to promote successful transition of this technology to the private sector for commercial adoption.      (c)  The Secretary of Energy shall consult with the Secretary of Defense, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the NASA Administrator regarding how advanced fuels and related technologies can best support implementation of sections 3, 4, and 5 of this order.       Sec. 7.  Common Technology Roadmap.  (a)  The Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Energy, and the NASA Administrator shall develop a common technology roadmap through 2030 that describes potential development programs and that coordinates, to the extent practicable, terrestrial-based advanced nuclear reactor and space-based nuclear power and propulsion efforts.  Agencies shall remain responsible for funding their respective mission-unique requirements.  The roadmap shall also include, at a minimum:            (i) assessments of foreign nations' space nuclear power and propulsion technological capabilities;             (ii)   pathways for transitioning technologies developed through Federally supported programs to private-sector activities; and              (iii)  other applications supporting the goals provided in section 1 of this order.         (b)  The roadmap shall be submitted to the President by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, and the Executive Secretary of the National Space Council before submissions of budget proposals by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Energy, and the NASA Administrator.      Sec. 8.  Definitions.  For purposes of this order:       (a)  The term "small modular reactor" refers to an advanced nuclear reactor of electric generation capacity less than 300 megawatt-electric.  Because of the smaller size, small modular reactors can generally be designed for factory fabrication and modular construction to take advantage of economies of serial production and shorter construction times.       (b)  The term "micro-reactor" refers to a nuclear reactor of electric generation capacity less than 10 megawatt-electric that can be deployed remotely.  Micro-reactors are a subset of small modular reactors and are also known as "very small modular reactors."       (c)  The term "transportable micro-reactor" refers to a micro-reactor that can be moved by truck, ship, or large military transport aircraft and is capable of both rapid deployment and teardown or removal, typically with safe teardown or removal less than 1 week after 1 year of full-power operation.       (d)  The term "space exploration" refers to in-space scientific and resource exploration, in-space economic and industrial development, and development of associated in-space logistical infrastructure.       (e)  The term "national defense" refers to the protection of the United States and its interests from foreign attack or other natural danger, including phenomena occurring on Earth and in space.         Sec. 9.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:              (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or             (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.      (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.      (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.                              DONALD J. TRUMP THE WHITE HOUSE,     January 5, 2021.

Statement from the President

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 12, 2021 Statement from the President Melania and I mourn the passing of Sheldon Adelson, and send our heartfelt condolences to his wife Miriam, his children and grandchildren. Sheldon lived the true American dream. His ingenuity, genius, and creativity earned him immense wealth, but his character and philanthropic generosity his great name. Sheldon was also a staunch supporter of our great ally the State of Israel. He tirelessly advocated for the relocation of the United States embassy to Jerusalem, the recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and the pursuit of peace between Israel and its neighbors. Sheldon was true to his family, his country, and all those that knew him. The world has lost a great man. He will be missed.

President Donald J. Trump Approves District of Columbia Emergency Declaration

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 11, 2021

President Donald J. Trump Approves District of Columbia Emergency Declaration                                                                                                                                                             Today, President Donald J. Trump declared that an emergency exists in the District of Columbia and ordered Federal assistance to supplement the District’s response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from the 59th Presidential Inauguration from January 11 to January 24, 2021.   The President’s action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety, and to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the District of Columbia.   Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency.  Emergency protective measures, limited to direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 100 percent Federal funding.    Pete Gaynor, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Thomas J. Fargione as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT THE FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@FEMA.DHS.GOV.

Proclamation on Honoring United States Capitol Police Officers

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 10, 2021

HONORING UNITED STATES CAPITOL POLICE OFFICERS   - - - - - - -   BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA   A PROCLAMATION          As a sign of respect for the service and sacrifice of United States Capitol Police Officers Brian D. Sicknick and Howard Liebengood, and all Capitol Police Officers and law enforcement across this great Nation, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, January 13, 2021.  I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fifth.                                 DONALD J. TRUMP

Executive Order on Providing an Order of Succession Within the Environmental Protection Agency

 

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 8, 2021 EXECUTIVE ORDER - - - - - - - PROVIDING AN ORDER OF SUCCESSION WITHIN  THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY        By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq. (the "Act"), it is hereby ordered as follows:     Section 1.  Order of Succession.  Subject to the provisions of section 2 of this order, and to the limitations set forth in the Act, the following officials of the Environmental Protection Agency, in the order listed, shall act as and perform the functions and duties of the office of the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (Administrator) during any period in which the Administrator and the Deputy Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency have died, resigned, or otherwise become unable to perform the functions and duties of the office of Administrator:       (a)  General Counsel;     (b)  Assistant Administrator, Office of Solid Waste (also known as the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Land and Emergency Management);     (c)  Assistant Administrator for Toxic Substances (also known as the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention);     (d)  Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation;     (e)  Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water;     (f)  Assistant Administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance;     (g)  Chief Financial Officer;     (h)  Assistant Administrator for the Office of Research and Development;      (i)  Assistant Administrator for the Office of International and Tribal Affairs;     (j)  Assistant Administrator for the Office of Mission Support;      (k)  Associate Deputy Administrator for Programs;     (l)  Associate Deputy Administrator;     (m)  Regional Administrator, Region VIII;     (n)  Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Mission Support;     (o)  Deputy Regional Administrator, Region VIII;     (p)  Principal Deputy General Counsel; and     (q)  Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.      Sec. 2.  Exceptions.  (a)  No individual who is serving in an office listed in section 1(a)-(q) of this order in an acting capacity shall, by virtue of so serving, act as Administrator pursuant to this order.     (b)  No individual listed in section 1(a)-(q) of this order shall act as Administrator unless that individual is otherwise eligible to so serve under the Act.     (c)  Notwithstanding the provisions of this order, the President retains discretion, to the extent permitted by law, to depart from this order in designating an acting Administrator.      Sec. 3.  Revocation.  Executive Order 13763 of January 13, 2017 (Providing an Order of Succession Within the Environmental Protection Agency), is hereby revoked.      Sec. 4.  General Provision.  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.                          DONALD J. TRUMP   THE WHITE HOUSE,     January 8, 2021.