Inspection: DOE-OIG-23-30

August 29, 2023

Allegations of Oversight Concerns at the National Nuclear Security Administration’s W88 Alteration 370 Federal Program Office

In March 2022, the Office of Inspector General received four allegations pertaining to oversight concerns at the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) W88 Alteration (Alt) 370 Federal Program Office.  Specifically, the complainants alleged that Federal Program Office officials: (1) exhibited abusive behavior towards employees at NNSA management and operating (M&O) sites; (2) hired an excessive number of contractors who did not add value; (3) engaged in the extensive use of unclassified communication channels that created security risks; and (4) interfered with the oversight of the weapons anomaly reporting and investigation process to prioritize schedule over quality.  

We conducted this inspection to determine the facts and circumstances regarding the alleged oversight concerns at NNSA’s W88 Alt 370 Federal Program Office.

We did not substantiate the four allegations pertaining to oversight concerns at NNSA’s W88 Alt 370 Federal Program Office.  Specifically, we did not substantiate that W88 Alt 370 Federal Program Office officials: (1) exhibited abusive behavior towards employees at NNSA M&O sites; (2) hired an excessive number of contractors who did not add value; (3) engaged in the extensive use of unclassified communication channels that created security risks; and (4) interfered with the oversight of the weapons anomaly reporting and investigation process to prioritize schedule over quality.  However, interviews with M&O contractors conveyed that there was pressure from NNSA’s W88 Alt 370 Federal Program Office to resolve issues expeditiously.

Although we did not substantiate the allegations, NNSA is in the process of assessing the state of relationships between the Federal and M&O contractor workforce.  NNSA’s September 2022 report, Evolving the Nuclear Security Enterprise: A Report of the Enhanced Mission Delivery Initiative, builds upon prior reviews and governance reform efforts to provide substantive actionable recommendations by senior leadership and subject matter experts from across the Nuclear Security Enterprise.  Also, the Government Accountability Office initiated a review of the implementation of NNSA’s Enhanced Mission Delivery Initiative; therefore, we are not making any recommendations. Therefore, no management response is required.