Bipartisan Commission Releases Final Report, Urges Bold National Strategy to Win Fusion Energy Race Against China

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Special Competitive Studies Project's (SCSP) Commission on the Scaling of Fusion Energy today released its final report, outlining a national strategy to ensure the United States wins the urgent global race to commercialize fusion energy. The report warns that while the U.S. has led in fusion science, it is on the verge of losing the multi-trillion-dollar commercialization race—and a critical national security advantage—to China.

The race for fusion has hit a critical turning point. Since the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory achieved fusion ignition late 2022, proving the science of fusion, China has invested at least $6.5 billion, and potentially over $10 billion, to win the fusion race. In stark contrast, U.S. government funding has remained largely stagnant. While American fusion companies are raising significant private investment, spurred in part by the soaring energy demands of technologies like artificial intelligence, China is building the infrastructure that will enable fusion to make the leap from science to commercialization.

"Our preliminary report underscored both the urgent need and opportunity for the United States to lead the world in the rapid commercialization of fusion energy," said Commission Co-Chair Senator Maria Cantwell. "This final report provides the actionable roadmap to get us there: a national strategy that could focus and supercharge America's unique innovation ecosystem, talent pool, and pioneering fusion companies to build the fusion-powered economy of the future right here in the United States."

"Upholding America's leadership in energy production is critical for U.S. industry, technological development, and countering competition from bad actors like China," said Commission Co-Chair Senator James Risch. "As the demand for energy continues to surge, we must produce even more reliable, base-load power. Leading on fusion will be vital in a race we cannot afford to lose."

"The nation first to master this technology will gain advantages that may prove decisive in the competition for global leadership in the 21st century," said SCSP President and Commission Co-Chair Ylli Bajraktari. "Our report moves beyond strategy to provide a concrete, actionable plan for victory. These recommendations demand bold investment and unwavering resolve, but the price of inaction would be far greater."

A National Strategy to Win

The Commission's final report makes several concrete recommendations for the U.S. Government:

• Launch a National Fusion Goal: The United States must launch a legacy-defining national goal to break ground on more than one industry-led fusion demonstration power plants before the end of the current presidential term.
• Declare Fusion a National Security Priority: The President should issue an executive order declaring fusion a national security priority to mobilize a whole-of-government effort to win the fusion race.
• Invest to Win: The U.S. Government should invest $10 billion for fusion commercialization to empower U.S. companies and scientists to out-innovate state-backed competitors and build the fundamental infrastructure for a domestic fusion industry.
• Streamline and Strengthen: Implement strategic actions to cut regulatory red tape, build robust supply chains, and develop the fusion workforce.

About the Commission on the Scaling of Fusion Energy: The 13-member Commission on the Scaling of Fusion Energy, launched in Fall 2024, brought together leaders from industry, government, and national labs to develop a strategy to position the United States not only as the leader in fusion science but also in its commercial scaling.

About SCSP: The Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) is a non-partisan, non-profit initiative with a mission to make recommendations to strengthen America's long-term competitiveness as emerging technologies reshape our national security, economy, and society.

For more information, please contact Tara Rigler at [email protected]. 

SOURCE Special Competitive Studies Project