President Donald Trump has suggested the U.S. will restart nuclear weapons testing, a move that upends decades of American policy.

"Work related to permitting, leasing, and other essential energy operations is continuing as expected work to help strengthen the nation's energy security, maintain reliable supplies, and protect American consumers from disruption," Interior Department spokeswoman Charlotte Taylor told the Times.

Trump's announcement breaks with more than three decades of policy. The last time the United States tested a nuclear weapon was in 1992.

On Oct 1, the first day of the government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Energy said it was canceling more than $7.5 billion in energy projects to save taxpayers' money. In termination letters, the agency told several grantees that the projects no longer align with the Trump administration’s pro-energy, especially pro-fossil fuel, approach.

The Trump administration canceled over 300 awards related to clean energy on October 1. The states most affected by the cuts voted for Democrat presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

Trump announced the US will resume testing nuclear weapons for the first time in three decades, sparking fears of a new nuclear race