How government spending on fusion research has risen, fallen, and been repeatedly outpaced by what scientists said was needed — the story behind the famous “fusion never” chart.
ReviewedLast reviewed: 9 Aug 2026·Category: History & Milestones
The Golden Age
U.S. fusion funding peaked in real terms in 1977–1984, driven by the energy crisis and Robert Hirsch’s leadership at the AEC/ERDA. Congress authorized construction of TFTR, the PLT tokamak, and mirror machines. Annual funding reached approximately $1 billion (2024 dollars) by the early 1980s.[1]
The Fusion Never chart: In 1976, ERDA published a chart showing four fusion development pathways at different funding levels. The “Fusion Never” line showed that below a minimum threshold, fusion would never be achieved regardless of time. Actual U.S. funding has tracked near or below this line since the mid-1980s.
The Decline
After the Reagan-era defence buildup, fusion budgets were cut sharply. The cancellation of MFTF-B (built for $372 million, never operated), BPX (the Burning Plasma Experiment), and the Tokamak Physics Experiment reflected shifting priorities. By the 2000s, U.S. fusion spending was roughly flat at ~$400 million/year, with an increasing share consumed by ITER obligations.[2]
Recent Growth
The 2022 White House Fusion Summit, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the DOE Bold Decadal Vision signalled renewed government interest. The FY2024 U.S. fusion budget exceeded $700 million. Meanwhile, private investment surpassed $7 billion globally by 2024, fundamentally changing the funding landscape.[3]
Sources
Dean, S.O. "The United States Magnetic Fusion Energy Program." Journal of Fusion Energy, 17, 289, 1998.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Bringing Fusion to the U.S. Grid. The National Academies Press, 2021.
Fusion Industry Association. "The Global Fusion Industry in 2024." FIA Annual Survey, 2024.