If you read between the lines, the private companies got their wish: a change in emphasis for the federal program toward doing the supporting work on nuclear ma

If you read between the lines, the private companies got their wish: a change in emphasis for the federal program toward doing the supporting work on nuclear materials science that (for example) Commonwealth Fusion has been suggesting. The other wishlist item is to build support for doing cost-share programs with industry to implement the larger facilities. If this gets traction, then the government wouldn't actually build the power plant, it would be more like NASA COTS where they help sponsor private companies that actually carry out the work. The INFUSE and ARPA-E fusion programs are tentative steps in this direction. Edit: BTW, rallying around an improved pitch is big deal for the federal fusion program. Budgets have generally been in decline ever since it peaked in the 70's, and for many years there was nothing much in terms of a vision for the next steps.