FIA Sends Letter to U.S. Department of Energy on FY27 Budget
The FIA’s letter to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright provides an outline of fusion priorities for the Fiscal Year 2027 budget request. In order for the U.S. to win the fusion race, it must adequately resource government programs and partnerships dedicated to commercially-relevant R&D and the deployment of fusion power.
For a strong commitment to U.S. fusion leadership, it is crucial that the dedicated Office of Fusion be fully funded at the authorized, topline level of $1.048 billion. The FIA recommends commercially-relevant fusion programming be fully funded at the authorization levels through FY27:
- Milestone-Based Development program: $317 million
- Alternative & Enabling Concepts program: $50 million
- Inertial Fusion Energy program: $40 million
- FIRE Collaboratives program:$180 million
The urgency of these investments for the United States cannot be understated. China is investing more than triple the U.S. on deploying fusion energy, spending at least $6.5 billion between 2023 and 2025 alone, where U.S. federal funding growth for fusion has remained stagnant. Other nations are outpacing the U.S. in funding fusion R&D and deployment as well; the EU, UK, Germany, and South Korea are investing $9 billion collectively. These national governments are identifying ways to partner with stakeholders in the private fusion industry to catalyze commercial fusion activities. The U.S. simply cannot afford to lose the race.
Alongside fully funding programming at the authorized levels for FY27, the FIA calls for a one-time $10 billion supplemental investment, to advance fusion programming and ensure U.S. leadership. This support would ensure the U.S. remains a dominant player in global fusion energy development and deployment, enabling Americans to reap the full benefits of fusion power – abundant, affordable, and clean electricity.
We look forward to continuing working with leaders at DOE, Congress, and other partners to accelerate deployment.
