KEY POINTS
  • The Department of Energy has authorized seven companies to share nuclear energy information with Saudi Arabia.
  • News of the approvals has sparked accusations the Trump administration is doing an end-run around Congress and facilitating secret discussions.
  • Veterans of nuclear policy say the authorizations are routine and do not raise immediate concerns about nuclear weapons proliferation.
President Donald Trump (center R) holds a lunch meeting with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (center L), and members of his delegation, in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC, March 20, 2018.

The Trump administration has given permission to a handful of U.S. companies to engage in early stage nuclear energy trade with Saudi Arabia, igniting a new battle with Congress over plans to sell American-made reactors to the kingdom.

The authorizations came to light over the last two days in Congressional hearings and news reports, which suggested the Trump administration is doing an end-run around Congress, facilitating secret discussions and putting the kingdom on track to develop nuclear weapons.