Budget & Policy

WRAP UP

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Abby L. Harvey
GHG Monitor
4/25/2014

IN THE STATES

Environmental officials from 13 states, along with industry officials, met with representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last week at an Energy-Producing States Summit held at Bismarck State College National Energy Center of Excellence in North Dakota. The meeting occurred as the EPA is working to develop carbon emission regulations for existing power plants by this summer, and state officials have called on the EPA to allow states greater flexibility in meeting any new standards. That message was reiterated during the summit, held April 16-17. “Any new rules on carbon dioxide emissions must be practical and based on technology that is commercially viable. … Imposing unattainable standards would only serve to undermine the nation’s security and could lead to higher utility rates for customers and lost jobs,” North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple said.

Budget & Policy

Fleischmann expects passage of 2027 E&W bill by Dec. 11, after midterms

Trey Rorie

Thursday, October 29, 2026

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.) told federal contractors and industry members here that he still expects the Energy and Water Development bill for fiscal 2027 to pass before Dec. 11.

Fleischmann, who wrote the most recent energy and water appropriations bill, doubled down on his predicted passage of the bill Wednesday after he told the Nuclear Cleanup Workshop attendees in Arlington, Va. last month. Fleischmann previously said the bill would pass during the ‘lame duck’ session.

Dec.11 is the expiration date for the current continuing resolution or stopgap spending measure, which for the most part keeps spending at fiscal 2026 levels.

Congress easily passed the continuing resolution in early September to avoid a government shutdown when fiscal 2027 ended on Sept. 30.

“I’m looking forward to conferencing that [bill] with the Senate, and hopefully we will get a bill done by December 11th,” Fleischmann said.

The Energy and Water Development bill passed out of the House Appropriations Committee in a 34 – 25 vote in May. However, the bill has not hit the full House of Representatives for a vote.

The Energy and Water Development bill funds the Department of Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. A large portion of DOE funding is centered around DOE’s semi-autonomous agency National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Nuclear cleanup, overseen by the Office of Environmental Management, also accounts for about 15% to 17% of DOE’s budget.

During the question and answers portion, Fleischmann acknowledged the possibilities of Republicans losing the House as a result of the midterm elections. Regardless of the results, Fleischmann will continue to be the Republican point man for the nuclear enterprise on the committee.

“Now, are we going to get everything we want? Absolutely not,” Fleischmann said. “But rest assured, as long as I have a voice and a vote, I will continue to work hard to make sure that America is energy dominant, that nuclear continues to move forward, and that Oak Ridge in our great state continues to be number one to attract that.”

Budget & Policy

GAO: NNSA workforce shrank nearly 12% amid nuclear modernization push

ExchangeMonitor

Thursday, October 29, 2026

The National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) federal workforce fell nearly 12% as the agency’s workload reached its highest level since the Cold War, according to a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report.

NNSA’s federal workforce declined by 236 employees, from 1,991 in the first quarter of fiscal 2025 to 1,755 in the second quarter of fiscal 2026, GAO said in the Oct. 15 report. The reduction came as the agency oversees a roughly $200 billion, two-decade effort to modernize the nation’s nuclear weapons and related infrastructure.

The workforce reduction followed presidential directives issued in early 2025, which led NNSA to halt workforce planning and curtail hiring, according to GAO. A government-wide hiring freeze ran from the second quarter of fiscal 2025 through the first quarter of fiscal 2026, although national security personnel were exempt and NNSA hired 35 federal employees during that period.

The agency’s workforce reductions disproportionately affected some mission-critical positions. NNSA lost nearly 14% of its mission-critical employees between the first quarter of fiscal 2025 and the second quarter of fiscal 2026, GAO found.

Some offices experienced even larger declines. NNSA’s Office of Environment, Safety and Health lost about 24% of its federal workforce, while the Office of Management and Budget lost about 22%. The Nevada Field Office and Los Alamos Field Office saw reductions of approximately 22% and 18%, respectively.

The reductions largely resulted from limited hiring and employee departures, primarily retirements and resignations. From fiscal 2023 through the second quarter of fiscal 2026, NNSA reported 669 employee separations and 540 hires.

The decline also reversed workforce growth that followed the elimination of a statutory cap on NNSA’s federal employees in fiscal 2023. The agency had added 129 employees before the subsequent reduction of 236 employees more than erased those gains.

NNSA officials told GAO that the agency has begun limited hiring to address remaining shortfalls.

Budget & Policy

Parsons CFO Ofilos to resign, former CFO interim successor

ExchangeMonitor

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Parsons Corp. Chief Financial Officer Matt Ofilos will resign Nov. 6 to pursue another professional opportunity, with former CFO George Ball returning on an interim basis as the company searches for a permanent successor.

Ofilos’ resignation is not related to any disagreement with Parsons over the company’s operations, policies or practices, the company said Oct. 28.

The Chantilly, Va.-based defense and technology contractor’s Board of Directors appointed Ball, a current board member and former Parsons CFO, to serve as interim CFO effective Nov. 6.

“I want to thank Matt for his leadership, partnership, and financial stewardship over the past five years,” Carey Smith, Parsons’ chair, president and CEO, said in a statement.

Smith said Ofilos helped the company grow revenue and profitability and advance its growth strategy during his tenure. She added that Ball’s familiarity with Parsons, its customers and employees would help ensure an orderly transition.

Ball served as Parsons’ CFO from 2008 to 2022, then joined the company’s board after retiring from the position. He joined Parsons in 1995 and held several financial and operational leadership roles with global responsibilities before becoming CFO. Ball also helped guide Parsons through its corporate transformation and initial public offering in 2019, according to the company.

The company said its board will conduct a search for a permanent CFO while Ball serves in the interim role.

Budget & Policy

Fleischmann expects passage of 2027 E&W bill by Dec. 11

ExchangeMonitor

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Dec.11 is the expiration date for the current continuing resolution or stopgap spending measure, which for the most part keeps spending at fiscal 2026 levels.

Congress easily passed the continuing resolution in early September to avoid a government shutdown when fiscal 2027 ended on Sept. 30.

“I’m looking forward to conferencing that [bill] with the Senate, and hopefully we will get a bill done by December 11th,” Fleischmann said.

The Energy and Water Development bill passed out of the House Appropriations Committee in a 34 – 25 vote in May. However, the bill has not hit the full House of Representatives for a vote.

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