Vol. 36, No. 17 Hanford ships 2,000 gallons of tank waste to Texas, Utah for grouting
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Budget & Policy
Trump unveils 2026 “skinny” budget with DoD increases and DOE refocus to nuclear
The Donald Trump administration released the fiscal 2026 budget proposal and topline discretionary funding request Friday, calling for a 13% increase in defense spending and a 22.6% decrease in non-defense spending. The request, obtained by the Exchange Monitor, said the Department of Defense would “re-establish deterrence” in coordination with Trump’s “peace through strength” agenda. The […]
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Budget & Policy
Many familiar faces exit DOE nuclear complex during Trump 2.0
During the first 100 days of President Donald Trump’s second term he has moved aggressively to reduce the federal workforce and the Department of Energy’s nuclear weapons complex has not been immune. Trump’s second term, which started Jan. 20, hit the 100-day mark this week on April 30. A document shared with Exchange Monitor in […]
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Cleanup & Remediation
Idaho, DOE announce ‘targeted waiver’ of settlement agreement
The Department of Energy and Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R) announced late Tuesday they have agreed to a “targeted waiver” of certain aspects of a 1995 settlement agreement designed to expedite removal of old spent nuclear fuel from Idaho National Laboratory. The agreement, which was later modified in 2019, calls for removal of most spent […]
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Transuranic Waste
With WIPP again receiving shipments, new ventilation system nearly ready
The Department of Energy has targeted disposal 425 shipments of transuranic waste at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico during fiscal 2025, and so far, there have been 151, a DOE official said Wednesday night. Mindy Toothman, the site operations and infrastructure division director for DOE’s Carlsbad Field Office, cited the numbers during […]
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Cleanup & Remediation
With Vance departure, Harkins becomes top acting boss at Hanford
With Hanford Site Manager Brian Vance having resigned from the Department of Energy, longtime federal supervisor Brian Harkins is now the highest-ranking fed at the former plutonium production complex in Washington state, a spokesperson confirmed Wednesday. Acting deputy manager Brian Harkins is currently leading the site, after Vance’s departure last week, a DOE spokesperson said […]
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Contracts & Procurement
DOE awards a $74.8 million contract for Oak Ridge support services
The Department of Energy has awarded a contract up to $74.8 million to a women-owned small business in Richland, Wash. to provide professional support services at the DOE’s Oak Ridge, Tenn. nuclear environmental cleanup site. The DOE’s Office of Environmental Management (EM) announced the contract with the company, Independent Strategic Management Solutions, Inc. (ISMSolutions), in […]
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Cleanup & Remediation
Fluor earnings fall, revenue rises during first quarter
Earnings fell at Fluor, Irving, Texas, in the first quarter, which the engineering and construction company that serves the Department of Energy and other federal clients attributed mostly to its non-government work. Net earnings for the first quarter ended March 31 reflected a loss of $241 million, or $1.42 a share, down from earnings of […]
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International
Attacks on nuclear power plants on agenda for National Academies panel
The National Academies’ Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board will discuss topics including the consequences of attacks on nuclear plants, during a two-day meeting starting May 15 in Washington, D.C. “The military threats to Ukrainian nuclear power plants as well as the Chernobyl shelter have raised renewed concerns about the vulnerability of these systems,” according to […]
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Budget & Policy
Wrap Up: Waste Strategy elects officers; Dem won’t seek re-election; Smith heads DOE unit; Livermore icon Foster dies
The Nuclear Waste Strategy Coalition announced April 25 it elected Katherine Peretick as chair of the coalition and Stacey Paradis as vice chair. The two will lead the commission in its aim to build a nuclear waste management program to dispose of spent nuclear fuel stored at both operating and shutdown nuclear plants nationwide, according […]
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News & Analysis
Correction:
Greg Sosson is associate principal deputy assistant secretary for field operations for the DOE Office of Environmental Management. An initial version of the article: “EM senior exec Sosson lauds DOE staff amid retirements” (Weapons Complex Monitor, April 25) included an incorrect job title.