Nathan Anderson
@atomicauditor.bsky.social
Director of the U.S. Government Accountability Office's nuclear cleanup and environmental liabilities portfolio. Fly fisherman with strong ties to the Pacific Northwest.
Reposted by Nathan Anderson
Los Alamos looks forward to additional park-and-ride shuttle routes to the lab. NNSA has some concerns about potential challenges with having sufficient federal staff to oversee the program and assess whether it’s providing the intended benefits.
September 30, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Los Alamos looks forward to additional park-and-ride shuttle routes to the lab. NNSA has some concerns about potential challenges with having sufficient federal staff to oversee the program and assess whether it’s providing the intended benefits.
Reposted by Nathan Anderson
Under a new authority in the FY25 NDAA, NNSA sites can reimburse some contractor commuting costs. This could improve safety and congestion. To date, Los Alamos is the only site to have made a proposal; they estimated it would cost $74 million to implement from FY25–30.
September 30, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Under a new authority in the FY25 NDAA, NNSA sites can reimburse some contractor commuting costs. This could improve safety and congestion. To date, Los Alamos is the only site to have made a proposal; they estimated it would cost $74 million to implement from FY25–30.
Reposted by Nathan Anderson
Commuting can be a slog. One way NNSA can address recruitment & retention challenges at its labs is by making it easier to get to work, including by offering park-and-ride shuttles and public transit subsidies.
www.gao.gov/products/gao...
www.gao.gov/products/gao...
September 30, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Commuting can be a slog. One way NNSA can address recruitment & retention challenges at its labs is by making it easier to get to work, including by offering park-and-ride shuttles and public transit subsidies.
www.gao.gov/products/gao...
www.gao.gov/products/gao...
Reposted by Nathan Anderson
NNSA said it plans to implement new processes, including the use of templates and root cause guidance, to help project managers better meet reporting requirements. We recommend they complete the guidance and implement the process.
September 30, 2025 at 4:27 PM
NNSA said it plans to implement new processes, including the use of templates and root cause guidance, to help project managers better meet reporting requirements. We recommend they complete the guidance and implement the process.
Reposted by Nathan Anderson
NNSA saw costs grow >25% on 7 out of 14 construction projects, but didn’t notify Congress about 5 of them for months, let alone within the 30 days required by law. Nor did NNSA assess the root causes of cost overruns for those 5 within 90 days or inform Congress, as required. #nukesky
September 30, 2025 at 4:27 PM
NNSA saw costs grow >25% on 7 out of 14 construction projects, but didn’t notify Congress about 5 of them for months, let alone within the 30 days required by law. Nor did NNSA assess the root causes of cost overruns for those 5 within 90 days or inform Congress, as required. #nukesky
Reposted by Nathan Anderson
NNSA spends a lot of money on nuclear weapons & infrastructure. NNSA has requirements (similar to those of the Nunn-McCurdy Act) to formally notify Congress about cost overruns and assess the reasons for the overruns, but it hasn’t consistently done so.
www.gao.gov/products/gao...
www.gao.gov/products/gao...
September 30, 2025 at 4:26 PM
NNSA spends a lot of money on nuclear weapons & infrastructure. NNSA has requirements (similar to those of the Nunn-McCurdy Act) to formally notify Congress about cost overruns and assess the reasons for the overruns, but it hasn’t consistently done so.
www.gao.gov/products/gao...
www.gao.gov/products/gao...
The cleanup of soil and landfills contaminated with nuclear waste, which DOE is on the hook for, could cost tens of billions of dollars and take decades. But the agency is unable to readily identify the scope, schedule, and cost of this cleanup.
www.gao.gov/products/gao...
www.gao.gov/products/gao...
September 26, 2025 at 3:16 PM
The cleanup of soil and landfills contaminated with nuclear waste, which DOE is on the hook for, could cost tens of billions of dollars and take decades. But the agency is unable to readily identify the scope, schedule, and cost of this cleanup.
www.gao.gov/products/gao...
www.gao.gov/products/gao...
Most Department of Energy sites haven’t completed reviews of their use of “forever chemicals” known as #PFAS, which have been linked to harmful health effects. We recommend that DOE finish these reviews so it can fully address PFAS contamination. www.gao.gov/products/gao...
September 24, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Most Department of Energy sites haven’t completed reviews of their use of “forever chemicals” known as #PFAS, which have been linked to harmful health effects. We recommend that DOE finish these reviews so it can fully address PFAS contamination. www.gao.gov/products/gao...
Reposted by Nathan Anderson
Until the UPF is ready, NNSA will have to keep using an 80-year old facility that could cost up to a half billion dollars to maintain in the meantime. We recommended that NNSA develop a comprehensive plan for this maintenance.
September 18, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Until the UPF is ready, NNSA will have to keep using an 80-year old facility that could cost up to a half billion dollars to maintain in the meantime. We recommended that NNSA develop a comprehensive plan for this maintenance.
Reposted by Nathan Anderson
The UPF is also delayed. The agency is monitoring the project, but there are already doubts that the contractor will meet its project milestone for 2029. There are concerns about the ability to track project progress because of the way the contractor categorizes project tasks.
September 18, 2025 at 5:04 PM
The UPF is also delayed. The agency is monitoring the project, but there are already doubts that the contractor will meet its project milestone for 2029. There are concerns about the ability to track project progress because of the way the contractor categorizes project tasks.
Reposted by Nathan Anderson
The estimated cost to complete the UPF has increased nearly $4 billion just since construction started in 2018. Poor management accounts for $770 million of that. NNSA has conducted reviews to get to the root of the cost increases and implemented 19 out of 20 corrective actions.
September 18, 2025 at 5:03 PM
The estimated cost to complete the UPF has increased nearly $4 billion just since construction started in 2018. Poor management accounts for $770 million of that. NNSA has conducted reviews to get to the root of the cost increases and implemented 19 out of 20 corrective actions.
Reposted by Nathan Anderson
In 2004 NNSA began planning the Uranium Processing Facility to replace Manhattan Project-era facilities at Y-12 in TN. Fast forward 21 years: UPF’s est. cost is up to nearly $10 billion and it’ll cost NNSA to keep using old facilities until UPF is complete.
www.gao.gov/products/gao...
www.gao.gov/products/gao...
September 18, 2025 at 5:02 PM
In 2004 NNSA began planning the Uranium Processing Facility to replace Manhattan Project-era facilities at Y-12 in TN. Fast forward 21 years: UPF’s est. cost is up to nearly $10 billion and it’ll cost NNSA to keep using old facilities until UPF is complete.
www.gao.gov/products/gao...
www.gao.gov/products/gao...
Reposted by Nathan Anderson
This morning @nytimes reported on radiological risks in Ukraine. We have a recent report on the range of nuclear security and safety risks related to the war in Ukraine. www.gao.gov/products/gao...
www.gao.gov
September 10, 2025 at 4:51 PM
This morning @nytimes reported on radiological risks in Ukraine. We have a recent report on the range of nuclear security and safety risks related to the war in Ukraine. www.gao.gov/products/gao...
Reposted by Nathan Anderson
You wouldn’t think the cost of a fixed-price construction contract could increase—but hundreds of NNSA’s run over, to the tune of $37.5 million just in FY23. NNSA’s construction budget is always tight so unexpected increases mean delays for other projects. www.gao.gov/products/gao... #nukesky
September 9, 2025 at 6:57 PM
You wouldn’t think the cost of a fixed-price construction contract could increase—but hundreds of NNSA’s run over, to the tune of $37.5 million just in FY23. NNSA’s construction budget is always tight so unexpected increases mean delays for other projects. www.gao.gov/products/gao... #nukesky
Reposted by Nathan Anderson
Fusion is essential for powering the USS Enterprise—and, here on earth, for maintaining and modernizing the U.S. nuclear stockpile without explosive nuclear testing. NNSA operates 3 fusion facilities for these purposes.
www.gao.gov/products/gao... #nukesky
www.gao.gov/products/gao... #nukesky
September 5, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Fusion is essential for powering the USS Enterprise—and, here on earth, for maintaining and modernizing the U.S. nuclear stockpile without explosive nuclear testing. NNSA operates 3 fusion facilities for these purposes.
www.gao.gov/products/gao... #nukesky
www.gao.gov/products/gao... #nukesky
Reposted by Nathan Anderson
Even so, there are signs that DNFSB is on the right track: DNFSB’s score on a measure of employee engagement & satisfaction jumped to 70 (out of 100) in 2024, from 39 in 2017. DNFSB’s primary resource is its people so better human capital planning means better outcomes.
September 4, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Even so, there are signs that DNFSB is on the right track: DNFSB’s score on a measure of employee engagement & satisfaction jumped to 70 (out of 100) in 2024, from 39 in 2017. DNFSB’s primary resource is its people so better human capital planning means better outcomes.
Reposted by Nathan Anderson
But! DNFSB is supposed to have 5 presidentially nominated & Senate-confirmed Board members. Filling seats has been challenging; as of August 2025, the Board had 2 seats filled, with 1 member’s term expiring in Oct 2025. With 1 seated member, the Board’s authority will be limited.
September 4, 2025 at 3:47 PM
But! DNFSB is supposed to have 5 presidentially nominated & Senate-confirmed Board members. Filling seats has been challenging; as of August 2025, the Board had 2 seats filled, with 1 member’s term expiring in Oct 2025. With 1 seated member, the Board’s authority will be limited.
Reposted by Nathan Anderson
DNFSB enhanced collaboration with stakeholders, improved internal processes, and boosted employee morale. One among many examples: DNFSB hired & delegated authority to an Executive Director of Operations to supervise staff and manage the day-to-day.
September 4, 2025 at 3:44 PM
DNFSB enhanced collaboration with stakeholders, improved internal processes, and boosted employee morale. One among many examples: DNFSB hired & delegated authority to an Executive Director of Operations to supervise staff and manage the day-to-day.
Reposted by Nathan Anderson
DNFSB has been busy—in addition to independently overseeing health & safety protections at U.S. defense nuclear facilities, it has been improving its management and planning based on recommendations from GAO and others.
www.gao.gov
September 4, 2025 at 3:43 PM
DNFSB has been busy—in addition to independently overseeing health & safety protections at U.S. defense nuclear facilities, it has been improving its management and planning based on recommendations from GAO and others.
Reposted by Nathan Anderson
Cesium is so old school. There are much more cutting-edge ways to irradiate your shrimp. www.gao.gov/products/gao...
August 21, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Cesium is so old school. There are much more cutting-edge ways to irradiate your shrimp. www.gao.gov/products/gao...
Reposted by Nathan Anderson
#nukesky When DOE’s Office of the Inspector General set up a division for auditing DOE’s largest contractors in 2021, it estimated it would cost ~$19 million/year to operate… but, as of 2025, the cost turns out to be more like $43.7 million.
Department of Energy: Inspector General’s Budget Estimates for Audits of Certain Contractors’ Costs Need Improvement
The Department of Energy’s Office of Inspector General seeks to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse. In 2021 the OIG established a new division to audit...
www.gao.gov
July 24, 2025 at 7:22 PM
#nukesky When DOE’s Office of the Inspector General set up a division for auditing DOE’s largest contractors in 2021, it estimated it would cost ~$19 million/year to operate… but, as of 2025, the cost turns out to be more like $43.7 million.
Reposted by Nathan Anderson
NNSA struggles to identify the total costs of its nuclear weapons programs and compare costs across contractors, making it hard for Congress and the agency to oversee these costs. We’ve made numerous recommendations over the years to address this. #nukesky
National Nuclear Security Administration: Progress Made Toward Fully Addressing Recommendations on Common Financial Reporting
The National Nuclear Security Administration pays contractors billions of dollars annually to run 8 sites where the agency maintains and modernizes U...
www.gao.gov
July 23, 2025 at 7:36 PM
NNSA struggles to identify the total costs of its nuclear weapons programs and compare costs across contractors, making it hard for Congress and the agency to oversee these costs. We’ve made numerous recommendations over the years to address this. #nukesky
The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico is the nation’s only disposal site for defense-related transuranic nuclear waste. It’s projected to accept waste until the 2080s but much of its key infrastructure is decades old and needs repair/replacement. #nukesky www.gao.gov/products/gao...
June 24, 2025 at 4:22 PM
The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico is the nation’s only disposal site for defense-related transuranic nuclear waste. It’s projected to accept waste until the 2080s but much of its key infrastructure is decades old and needs repair/replacement. #nukesky www.gao.gov/products/gao...
Reposted by Nathan Anderson
Tune in to our podcast for a deeper discussion of our report!
Ukraine Nuclear Security and Safety Efforts
Under harsh conflict conditions, Ukrainians have struggled to operate nuclear power plants and to secure nuclear and radioactive materials from...
www.gao.gov
June 12, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Tune in to our podcast for a deeper discussion of our report!
Reposted by Nathan Anderson
We recommend that DOE (1) require timely fraud risk assessments for programs that experience a changed operating environment and (2) formalize transition plans to better ensure Ukrainian partners can sustain nuclear security/safety efforts. DOE agreed with the recommendations.
June 12, 2025 at 4:23 PM
We recommend that DOE (1) require timely fraud risk assessments for programs that experience a changed operating environment and (2) formalize transition plans to better ensure Ukrainian partners can sustain nuclear security/safety efforts. DOE agreed with the recommendations.