Nuclear weapon modernization, environmental cleanup face funding shortfalls, GAO reports

The National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) plans to modernize the nation’s nuclear weapons is not supported by the administration’s budget, and Department of Energy (DoE) environmental cleanup could cost billions more than projected, according to a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report.

GAO found that the current costs of modernization programs like nuclear weapon refurbishments don’t align with the president’s budget projections — and program costs are likely to increase in the future.

Additionally, DoE is responsible for more than 80 percent of the federal cleanup responsibilities, which totals approximately $372 billion. However, GAO found that certain costs aren’t reflected in that total, including key elements of a proposal to separate defense and nuclear waste repositories.

“…Full costs are likely to be billions of dollars more than DOE’s reported environmental liabilities,” GAO stated. “To effectively address cleanup, GAO has made at least 28 recommendations to DoE and other federal agencies, which could reduce long-term costs as well as environmental risks more quickly. Of these, 13 remain not implemented.”

GAO noted that DoE has made a number of changes to enhance contract and project management, including requiring project cost estimates and analyses of alternatives. However, DoE “continues to struggle” to address other critical areas like acquisition planning for major contracts and various aspects of program and project management.

Challenges also face NNSA’s nonproliferation programs, the GAO review found. NNSA’s Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation (DNN), for example, fails to measure performance versus schedule and cost baselines.

GAO recommended that Congress considering reforming laws pertaining to environmental cleanup activities and made a series of recommendations for DoE to improve project management.