GAO says DOE cleanup office locks in costly nuclear waste project choices too early, limiting cheaper alternatives

The GAO found that DOE’s Office of Environmental Management often defines project needs in ways that already point to a specific solution, despite standards meant to keep options open. In some nuclear cleanup projects, this early narrowing meant potential cost-saving alternatives were not fully considered, prompting GAO to recommend more independent expert review before solutions are approved.

The report highlights a recurring risk in large federal infrastructure programs: early decisions can harden into expensive commitments before alternatives get a fair review. Stronger independent scrutiny could improve procurement discipline and help DOE control long-term cleanup costs that already run into the billions.