National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
The NNSA is the semi-autonomous DOE agency responsible for the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile, naval reactor propulsion, and nuclear nonproliferation programs. Reporting covers warhead life extension, plutonium pit production, site contracts, budget requests, and the agency’s laboratory and production plant complex.
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Nuclear Weapons & Stockpile
DOE inspector general reports energy inefficiencies at NNSA Pantex Plant
The National Nuclear Security Administration did not comply with an energy savings performance contract from 2018 to 2021 at the Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas, an audit from the Office of Inspector General said. The DOE Inspector General’s audit reported that savings identified in an energy savings performance contract (ESPC) with renewable energy firm NORESCO […]
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Contracts & Procurement
Amentum’s new IR head will work on Jacobs’ merger-related issues
Virginia-based Amentum recently hired Nathan Rutledge for its newly-created position of senior vice president and head of investor relations. Rutledge will lead investor relations activity connected with Amentum’s announced merger with Jacobs’ Critical Mission Solutions and Cyber and Intelligence businesses, according to a July 2 press release. The new blended company will be publicly traded. […]
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Nuclear Weapons & Stockpile
BWXT team proceeds with Pantex takeover, announces president
PanTeXas Deterrence got the green light from the National Nuclear Security Administration to begin taking over as management and operations contractor for the Pantex Plant located near Amarillo, Texas. The transition to manage Pantex, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) plant that services all U.S. nuclear weapons, will begin July 15 and end November 14, […]
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International
Wrap up: U.S.-Philippines 123 agreement; NNSA hosts gender equality workshop in Argentina; ACA says Iran presents nonproliferation risks; More
The U.S. and the Philippines entered into a civil nuclear cooperation agreement, or 123 agreement, on July 2, the State Department said in a press release. Vice President Kamala Harris announced in 2022 that the two countries had entered into negotiations, of which Philippine Energy Undersecretary Sharon Garin said were in the “home stretch” in […]
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Budget & Policy
Texas congressman wants to amend budget bill to prohibit defunding high explosives at Pantex
An amendment that would prohibit defunding high explosive production at the Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas, would be considered next week by the House Rules Committee as part of the 2025 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), whose district includes the Pantex Plant that services all U.S. nuclear […]
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Budget & Policy
Texas congressman wants to amend budget bill to prohibit defunding high explosives at Pantex
An amendment that would prohibit defunding high explosive production at the Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas, would be considered next week by the House Rules Committee as part of the 2025 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), whose district includes the Pantex Plant that services all U.S. nuclear […]
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Nuclear Weapons & Stockpile
BWXT team proceeds with Pantex takeover, announces president
PanTeXas Deterrence got the green light from the National Nuclear Security Administration to begin taking over as management and operations contractor for the Pantex Plant located near Amarillo, Texas. The transition to manage Pantex, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) plant that services all U.S. nuclear weapons, will begin July 15 and end November 14, […]
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Cleanup & Remediation
Wrap up: WIPP DNFSB briefing delayed until September; Top EM/NNSA bosses to appear in Santa Fe; WRPS seeks sub; more
The Department of Energy says it will take 60 more days, until mid-September, for it to prepare a report and briefing addressing Defense Nuclear Facilities Board concerns about continuous monitoring for a new ventilation system at the agency’s deep-underground transuranic waste disposal site in New Mexico. The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board (DNFSB) said in […]
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Life Extension Programs
SASC wants briefing by DOE and DOD if alternative to W80 for SLCM-N
The Senate Armed Services Committee wants the secretaries of energy and defense to brief Congress if either plans an alternative to the W80-4 warhead for a nuclear-armed, sea-launched cruise missile, according to a draft National Defense Authorization Act released Monday. The briefing would have to detail the benefits and cost expectations of any alternative, according […]
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Non-Proliferation
House committee adds NNSA nonproliferation language to 2025 budget bill
WASHINGTON — The first draft of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s 2025 budget passed the House Appropriations Committee Tuesday on a largely party line vote and one new directive about nuclear nonproliferation in Eastern Europe. The committee passed the bill 30-26, which if made law would provide some $25.5 billion to the National Nuclear Security […]
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Nuclear Weapons & Stockpile
NNSA said GAO made ‘misleading’ conclusions about modernization programs
Integrating “only” government-wide practices will not help keep nuclear weapons infrastructure projects on time and on budget, the head of the National Nuclear Security Administration said in a letter published Tuesday. “We strongly believe that the incorporation of government best practices alone will not fundamentally change our ability to integrate the program and project cost […]
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Uranium Enrichment & Fuel Cycle
Senators ‘concerned’ about U.S. uranium enrichment capabilities, NDAA report shows
The Senate Armed Services Committee wants to require the Department of Energy to pick two to four possible sites for a new domestic uranium enrichment facility for defense programs, according to a bill report published Monday. The report was appended to the panel’s version of the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which the Senate […]
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Plutonium Pit Production
Plutonium pit production up slightly after shifting funds, appropriations bill report shows
Complex-wide plutonium modernization is up slightly, with Los Alamos plutonium funding shifting to operations from modernization, in the House’s first draft of the Department of Energy’s 2025 budget. The full House Appropriations Committee was to debate and vote on the legislation Tuesday during a multi-bill markup scheduled to begin on Capitol Hill at 9:00 a.m. […]
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Budget & Policy
House Appropriations Committee to mark up 2025 DOE funding bill this week
The House Appropriations Committee will mark up Tuesday a bill that would authorize a 2% year-over-year raise for the National Nuclear Security Administration and keep nuclear-weapons cleanup at the Department of Energy about flat in fiscal year 2025. The full-committee markup was scheduled for 9:00 a.m. Eastern time in the Rayburn House Office Building, room […]
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National Laboratories
NNSA partners with Los Alamos in largest carbon-free energy procurement ever
The National Nuclear Security Administration’s largest ever carbon-pollution-free procurement would be a partnership with Los Alamos that aims to provide two Department of Energy labs in New Mexico with electricity from solar energy, the agency said Thursday. The project — called the Los Alamos County Foxtail Flats Solar and Storage Project — will notionally be […]
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International
NNSA head to discuss nuclear testing ban with diplomats in July
The National Nuclear Security Administration will host diplomats at Sandia National Laboratories and Nevada National Security Sites in July with aims to be transparent about its activities and its moratorium on nuclear testing. The National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) labs will host diplomats from the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban-Treaty Organization, as well as the United Arab […]
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National Laboratories
NNSA partners with Los Alamos in largest carbon-free energy procurement ever
The National Nuclear Security Administration’s largest ever carbon-pollution-free procurement would be a partnership with Los Alamos that aims to provide two Department of Energy labs in New Mexico with electricity from solar energy, the agency said Thursday. The project — called the Los Alamos County Foxtail Flats Solar and Storage Project — will notionally be […]
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National Laboratories
NNSA partners with Los Alamos in largest carbon-free energy procurement ever
The National Nuclear Security Administration’s largest ever carbon-pollution-free procurement would be a partnership with Los Alamos that aims to provide two Department of Energy labs in New Mexico with electricity from solar energy, the agency said Thursday. The project — called the Los Alamos County Foxtail Flats Solar and Storage Project — will notionally be […]
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International
NNSA head to discuss nuclear testing ban with diplomats in July
The National Nuclear Security Administration will host diplomats at Sandia National Laboratories and Nevada National Security Sites in July with aims to be transparent about its activities and its moratorium on nuclear testing. The National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) labs will host diplomats from the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban-Treaty Organization, as well as the United Arab […]
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Budget & Policy
House subcommittee approves bill to fund NNSA above request; UPF gets extra
WASHINGTON — The National Nuclear Security Administration would get a year-over-year raise and roughly 2% more than requested under a 2025 budget bill approved here Friday by a House subcommittee. Among the beneficiaries would be the delayed, budget-busting Uranium Processing Facility (UPF) at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tenn., for which the […]
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Budget & Policy
House subcommittee would fund NNSA above request, mostly weapons
The National Nuclear Security Administration would get about $25.5 billion, 2% more than requested for fiscal year 2025 and a roughly 5.5% raise year-over-year, if a bill released Thursday becomes law. Most of the increase proposed by the House Appropriations energy and water development subcommittee in the first congressional budget recommendation of the year for […]
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Budget & Policy
Biden budget request for Uranium Processing Facility is a start, House approps cardinal says
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s $800-million request for the Uranium Processing Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tenn., is “a darn good start,” a congressional appropriator said here Wednesday at an industry conference. “Now, you’ll see my mark tomorrow,” Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.), chair of the House Appropriations energy and water […]
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Budget & Policy
NNSA prime headcount up but not uniformly, GAO diversity report finds
The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration should update its racial diversity guides for prime contractors to ensure leading practices are being used, the Government Accountability Office said in a report out Friday. Also, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said, the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) May 2023 diversity report for management contractors generally […]
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Nuclear Weapons & Stockpile
Wrap Up: Trump’s Advisor says test nukes; TVA paperwork milestone; Y-12 requests graphite ovens; More
Former President Donald Trump’s (R) national security advisor Robert O’brien argued the U.S. must test nuclear weapons again outside of a computer model in an article he published in Foreign Affairs. O’brien said that if China and Russia continue to refuse to engage in peace talks, and continue to upgrade their nuclear arsenal, the U.S. […]
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Cleanup & Remediation
Weapons complex site managers wrestle with tech, workforce issues
ARLINGTON, VA — Contractor and federal managers from across the Department of Energy’s nuclear weapons complex are using technology to help predict issues from workplace accidents to infrastructure failure, these people said at a meeting here Tuesday. Using technology to help school new hires on potential hazards in a nuclear workplace is important amid the […]
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Non-Proliferation
NAS report makes recommendations for radiological security, NNSA agrees, alludes to new program
The National Academies of Sciences recommended in a report that the National Nuclear Security Administration enhance the security of radiological materials by prioritizing research funding and engaging in cooperation with low- and middle-income countries already using radiological sources. “By investing in this… it’s a deterrent in and of itself,” Jeffrey Chamberlin, acting principal assistant deputy […]
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Cleanup & Remediation
Parties in $45B contract battle make arguments in closed-door hearing with claims judge
A U.S. Court of Federal Claims judge held a closed-door hearing Friday but had yet to issue a decision in a legal fight over a potential $45-billion Department of Energy contract for emptying liquid waste tanks at the Hanford Site in Washington state. In a Washington, D.C. courtroom, U.S. Court of Federal Claims Judge Marian […]
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Cleanup & Remediation
Wrap Up: Executive to leave DOE; L&A board appoints 2 members; SMR for Savannah River?
Jack Anderson and Sandra Fairchild, two experienced hands around the Department of Energy’s weapons complex, have joined the advisory board for Las Vegas-based contractor Longenecker & Associates, the company said this week. Anderson logged more than 30 years with DOE and its national laboratories, including tours with Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York and the […]
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Innovation & Infrastructure
NNSA picks Estuary for a solar project at NNSS
The Department of Energy and its Nevada National Security Administration Wednesday announced the selection of a solar developer to pursue a carbon-free electric project at the Nevada National Security Site. Under the Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative, DOE and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) have selected Estuary Power LLC & NV Energy as the […]
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Innovation & Infrastructure
NNSA picks Estuary for a solar project at NNSS
The Department of Energy and its Nevada National Security Administration Wednesday announced the selection of a solar developer to pursue a carbon-free electric project at the Nevada National Security Site. Under the Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative, DOE and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) have selected Estuary Power LLC & NV Energy as the […]












