China, Britain, and Germany have already announced halts to new constructions and shut downs of some operating plants for safety checks. But the Obama administration, even in the midst of the nuclear disaster in Japan, publicly stated on Wednesday that the U.S. will continue to push ahead with nuclear expansion plans. Said Chu that the president’s budget calls for $36 billion for loan guarantees for new reactors. “The president’s budget is what it is,” he said. “That position has not been changed.” Outraged already? We are.