National Nuclear Security Administration: Observations on Management Challenges and Steps Taken to Address Them
Abstract
NNSA is responsible for managing the nation's nuclear security missions, which include ensuring a safe, secure, and reliable nuclear deterrent; achieving reductions in the nuclear weapons stockpile; and supporting nuclear nonproliferation efforts (known as DNN programs). NNSA executes its missions at eight sites that make up the nuclear security enterprise. GAO's reports have highlighted challenges NNSA has faced for several years. These challenges contribute to GAO's continuing inclusion of NNSAs management of contracts and major projects on GAO's list of agencies and program areas that are high risk due to their vulnerabilities to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, or are inmost need of transformation. A recent series of commissions on NNSA's management, governance, and structure - such as the Augustine-Mies Panel - highlights the importance of NNSA's mission. This testimony is based on eight prior GAO products issued from December 2010 through February 2015 and discusses NNSA's (1) plans to modernize the nuclear security enterprise, (2) understanding of the causes of contract and project management problems and the extent to which it is has implemented GAO's related recommendations, (3) DNN programs' status in securing vulnerable nuclear materials, and (4) challenges in its governance of the nuclear security enterprise.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 15, 2015
- Accession Number
- AD1177437
Entities
People
- David C. Trimble