US firm validates 1.1-GW nuclear fusion plant design to deliver 400 MW electricity
(interestingengineering.com)
R&D and actual practical power plant construction are worlds apart. It's extremely questionable that cutting off funding to fusion would have changed any opinions on nuclear. Govts didn't abandon nuclear due to a lack of technology, it was mainly FUD by lobbyists.
If the goal is to get off fossil fuels ASAP
Problem is, that was never the goal for the people in power, it could have been accomplished easily.