Skip to main content

Energy

Jump To:

Recent Reports

View More Reports

Open Recommendations

Managing Critical Isotopes: DOE Could Better Assess Market Needs and Respond to Risks
GAO-26-108053
Jul 23, 2026
Show
4 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Office of Science The Director of the Office of Science should develop a mechanism to systematically assess demand proactively and develop actions to address isotopes in short supply. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Office of Science The Director of the Office of Science should establish an advisory committee to assess isotope supply and demand as statutorily required. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Office of Science The Director of the Office of Science should mitigate risks to isotope production and supply chains, including identifying actions and time frames for completion. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Office of Science The Director of the Office of Science should establish a means for communicating isotope production and supply chain risks and mitigation plans to affected customers. (Recommendation 4)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Department of Energy: Efforts to Streamline Project Management at National Laboratories and Nuclear Sites [Reissued with revisions on Jul. 17, 2026]
GAO-26-108520
Jul 17, 2026
Show
2 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should ensure that specific, identifiable goals, outcomes, and performance measures are established and used to evaluate the overall, agencywide effectiveness of the Secretary's directed revisions to streamline project management. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
National Nuclear Security Administration The NNSA Administrator should ensure that specific, identifiable goals, outcomes, and performance measures are established and used to evaluate the overall, NNSA-wide effectiveness of the Secretary's directed revisions to streamline project management. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Energy Security: Congress and DOE Need a Unified Plan to Align Priorities and Investments for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve
GAO-26-106918
Jun 26, 2026
Show
7 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Congress To the extent that Congress wants additional and more timely information to inform its oversight of the SPR, Congress should consider mandating a timeline and requirements for DOE to complete periodic long-term plans for the SPR. (Matter for Consideration 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Congress To the extent that Congress wants to limit further SPR size decreases or avoid operational inefficiencies, including strain on aging infrastructure during ongoing capital projects, Congress should consider temporarily limiting non-emergency sales—such as by further canceling or delaying mandated sales or temporarily limiting drawdown authorities except in case of emergencies. (Matter for Consideration 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Congress To the extent that Congress wants to prioritize sustaining the SPR's operational capability, it should consider authorizing a funding mechanism that aligns with long-term plans to facilitate DOE's cost-effective management of investments to maintain the SPR—such as budget authority for DOE to collect and retain a portion of the revenues from any sales or leased assets for the purpose of covering ongoing or periodic costs. (Matter for Consideration 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Energy The SPR Project Management Office in coordination with the Office of Petroleum Reserves should assess lessons learned from the 2022 drawdown—including on the SPR's effective operational capability and limitations—and incorporate those lessons into any long-term plans or capability assessments. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Energy The SPR Project Management Office in coordination with the Office of Petroleum Reserves should assess lessons learned from the LE2 project—including on scoping, staffing, and contractor oversight—and incorporate those lessons into any long-term or more immediate action plans for further infrastructure projects. (Recommendation 2)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
Department of Energy The Office of Petroleum Reserves in coordination with the SPR Project Management Office should assess the need to update the SPR's technical and performance criteria and revise them as deemed appropriate. (Recommendation 3)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.

Department of Energy: Action Needed to Approve Advanced Test Reactor Spent Fuel Plan
GAO-26-107969
May 07, 2026
Show
1 Open Recommendations
Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Energy The Secretary of Energy should direct the Office of Nuclear Energy senior leadership, in coordination with the Office of Environmental Management, to complete its evaluation of the Idaho Operations Office's research and test reactor spent fuel storage facility reconfiguration plan to enable continued storage and management of ATR spent fuel after 2030 without an interruption to ATR operations. (Recommendation 1)
Open
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
View More Recommendations

Related Pages

GAO Contacts

Multimedia

Podcasts

Ukraine Nuclear Security and Safety Efforts
Transcript
Protecting Department of Energy Funded U.S. Technologies from Risky Foreign Acquisition
Transcript
High-Risk Radioactive Material Disposal
Transcript